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CHRISTIAN  HINDUS. 


Frontispiece. 


BITS  ABOUT 


INDIA. 


by  y 

MRS.  HELEN  H.  HOLCOMB, 

Of  Allahabad,  India, 

Author  of  “ Mabel’s  Summer  in  the  Himalayas." 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION 
AND  SABBATH-SCHOOL  WORK, 

1334  CHESTNUT  STREET. 


COPYRIGHT,  1888,  BY 

THE  TRUSTEES  OF  THE 

PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION 
AND  SABBATH-SCHOOL  WORK. 


ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED 


Westcott  & Thomson, 
Stereotypers  and  Eleetrotypers , Philada. 


This  little  book  is  full  of  interesting 
facts  about  India,  its  people,  its  customs, 
its  worship,  its  private  and  social  life — 
the  very  things  that  really  tell  most  con- 
cerning a country,  and  yet  the  very  things 
which  most  writers  are  apt  to  overlook. 
The  writer  has  long  been  a missionary 
resident  in  India,  and  is  thoroughly  famil- 
iar with  the  things  of  which  she  writes  so 
pleasantly.  Editor. 


6 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I.  PAGE 

Scenes  at  an  Indian  Railway- Station n 

CHAPTER  II. 

A Morning  in  an  Indian  Bazaar 24 

CHAPTER  III. 

Wayside  Scenes  in  India 39 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Lepers  in  India 52 

CHAPTER  V. 

Indian  Potters 66 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Some  Animals  in  India 74 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Some  Indian  Pests 103 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

A Mela  or  Religious  Fair  in  India 115 

CHAPTER  IX. 

A Glimpse  of  Tent-Life  in  India 127 

CHAPTER  X. 

Eastern  Customs 143 

7 


8 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XI.  page 

Some  Superstitions  of  the  People  of  India  ....  154 

CHAPTER  XII. 

A Glimpse  of  Indian  Home-Life 166 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Child- Wives 175 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  Boys  of  India 1S4 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Christmas  in  India 200 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

A New  Year’s  Day  in  India 21 1 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

A Church  on  the  River  Jumna 217 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Death  in  a Heathen  Household. — The  Contrast  . 228 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Benares,  and  its  Schools  for  Heathen  Girls  . . . 234 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Other  Schools  for  Heathen  Girls 241 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Schools  for  Christian  Girls 249 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Sacred  Beasts  and  Birds 264 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


FAGB 

Christian  Hindus Frontispiece. 

Eastern  Women  Carrying  Water 29 

Scene  in  an  Oriental  Bazaar 33 

Oriental  Lepers  Receiving  Alms 53 

Royal  Elephant  and  Trappings 82 

The  Ship  of  the  Desert 85 

A Loaded  Camel 87 

Tigers 93 

A Leopard • 97 

Jackals 101 

Getting  a Breakfast 107 

Akbar’s  Fort,  Allahabad 119 

Women  with  Water-Jars 131 

Going  to  the  Well 139 

Eastern  Water-Merchant 145 

Women  at  the  Mill 149 

Hindu  Burial 151 

Worshiping  a Brahman 155 


9 


I O ILL  USTRA  TIONS. 

PAGE 

A Brahman  Family 159 

The  Goddess  Doorga 163 

Oriental  Putting  off  Shoes  164 

Ganesh,  the  God  of  Wisdom 191 

On  the  River  Jhilum 195 

Church  on  the  River  Jumna 219 

Hindu  Mother  and  Daughter  221 

Benares 237 

Mission  School  in  India 245 

Sacred  Bull 267 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


CHAPTER  I. 

SCENES  AT  AN  INDIAN  RAILWAY-STATION. 

A FOREIGNER  traveling  in  India  can- 
not fail  to  be  impressed  with  the 
crowds  of  natives  of  the  country  to  be 
found  at  every  railway-station.  With  no 
proper  conception  of  the  value  of  time, 
the  native  is  yet  impressed  with  the  fact 
that  railway-trains  do  not  wait  for  tardy 
passengers,  and,  consequently,  hours  before 
the  departure  of  a train  intending  travelers 
may  be  seen  sitting  wherever  they  can  find 
space.  At  large  railway-stations,  where 
the  traffic  is  great,  natives  traveling  as 
third-class  passengers  purchase  their  tick- 
ets at  a separate  window,  and  by  gates 
well  secured  are  shut  off  from  the  platform 
where  other  passengers  congregate.  Thus 
barred  out,  we  often  see  huddled  together 

11 


12 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


like  frightened  sheep  a crowd  of  people 
waiting  for  the  opening  of  the  window  and 
the  appearance  of  the  ticket-agent ; then 
they  rush  wildly  forward,  and  from  many 
folds  of  cloth  or  other  mysterious  hiding- 
place  bring  forth  a little  heap  of  treasure 
— the  price  of  their  journey — which  they 
exchange  for  a railway-ticket.  When  all 
have  been  served,  the  gates  are  thrown 
open,  and  there  is  a rush  toward  the  train, 
the  Brahman  and  the  outcast  jostling  each 
other  in  their  anxiety  to  secure  a place 
before  the  impatient  iron  horse  rushes 
away,  and  the  poor  bewildered  creatures 
run  hither  and  thither,  attracted  by  any 
open  door.  If  by  chance  they  attempt  to 
enter  a first-class  carriage,  a reception  fre- 
quently awaits  them  that  speedily  turns  their 
feet  in  another  direction.  Some  of  the 
travelers  find  the  proper  place,  and,  pant- 
ing with  excitement,  sink  down,  glad  at  last 
to  have  found  a spot  where  they  may  rest ; 
but  like  driven  sheep  others  follow  until 
the  compartment  is  choked  and  a railway- 
guard  comes  to  the  rescue.  Sometimes  in 
wild  attempts  to  find  a seat  the  precious 


AN  INDIAN  RAILWAY-STATION.  I 3 

moments  are  consumed  ; the  train  glides 
out  of  the  station,  and  leaves  staring  after 
it  with  astonished  eyes  hapless  creatures 
who  will  sit  demurely  upon  the  platform 
until  the  coming  of  another  train.  They 
do  not  make  much  ado,  these  patient  mor- 
tals. “It  is  our  fate,”  they  sigh;  and,  con- 
soling themselves  with  the  hookah  and  sat- 
isfying their  hunger  with  a few  handfuls  of 
parched  grain,  they  quietly  wait. 

The  women,  looking  timidly  out  from 
under  their  veils  and  nervously  anxious  to 
keep  near  their  male  protectors,  the  orna- 
ments on  feet  and  ankles  tinkling  musically 
as  they  shuffle  along,  always  interest  me, 
and  the  children  with  wondering  eyes  and 
free,  graceful  movements  are  a pretty  sight. 
Sometimes  a high-caste  woman  of  wealth 
is  brought  to  the  train  in  a litter  carried  by 
servants,  who  take  their  coy  burden  to  the 
very  door  of  the  compartment  which  has 
been  previously  reserved.  The  husband 
or  some  male  relative  of  the  lady  cautiously 
lifts  the  curtain  of  the  litter,  and  the 
closely-veiled  female  glides  in,  carefully 
concealing  her  charms  from  curious  eyes. 


14  BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 

Occasionally  we  see  figures  enveloped  in 
long  white  garments,  the  face  entirely 
covered  and  only  the  eyes  visible.  It  is  im- 
possible to  determine  whether  these  silent 
creatures  groping  along  and  carefully  guard- 
ed are  ancient  dames  or  blooming  damsels. 

When  it  was  proposed  to  introduce  rail- 
ways into  India,  the  Brahmans  objected  to 
the  innovation  on  the  ground  that  pilgrims 
to  distant  shrines  might  avail  themselves 
of  such  a mode  of  conveyance,  and  thus 
lose  the  merit  to  be  acquired  from  toilsome 
journeying  on  foot.  Their  fears  were  well 
founded,  for  few  trains  arrive  or  depart  that 
do  not  bear  pilgrims  to  some  shrine  ; and  at 
some  seasons  of  the  year  special  trains 
— called  “pilgrim-trains” — are  necessary,  as 
the  number  of  travelers  is  so  great  that 
they  cannot  be  conveyed  by  ordinary 
trains. 

During  a mela,  or  religious  festival,  the 
scene  at  a great  railway- station  defies  de- 
scription. There  are  crowdsof  pilgrims,  men, 
women  and  children,  the  rich  and  the  poor, 
the  very  old  and  the  very  young.  The  same 
train  that  brings  a swarm  of  pilgrims  also 


AN  INDIAN  RAILWAY-STATION.  IS 

carries  away  a multitude.  Many  have 
journeyed  long  distances  and  are  worn  and 
weary.  To  many  it  is  their  first  experience 
of  railway-travel,  and  they  feel  a sense  of 
relief  when  they  can  once  more  tread  the 
firm  earth.  When  they  reach  their  homes, 
what  tales  these  travelers  will  have  to  tell  of 
the  wonders  of  the  railway — of  the  strange 
monster  of  iron  and  brass,  “ with  wheels 
instead  of  feet,  which  eats  coal  and  drinks 
water  at  every  stage,  breathes  fire  and 
smoke,  pants  like  a horse,  screams  like  an 
elephant  and  is  strongtr  than  either”  ! 

When  the  lordly  Brahman  found  that  his 
ancient  land  was  not  to  be  exempt  from 
that  modern  abomination  the  railway,  he 
proudly  declared  that  he  would  not  be  se- 
duced from  the  ways  of  his  fathers,  and  for 
a time  he  was  content  to  journey  by  slow 
stages  in  carts  drawn  by  oxen.  But  even 
he  was  forced  at  last  to  admit  that  there 
are  advantages  in  railway-travel ; for  His 
Lordship  the  Brahman,  though  boasting  a 
descent  higher  than  that  of  kings,  has  not 
always  a plethoric  purse,  and  even  his 
mind,  supposed  to  be  engrossed  in  medi- 


i6 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


tation  upon  things  sacred,  could  grasp  the 
idea  that  it  would  certainly  be  to  his  advan- 
tage, when  necessity  required  him  to  travel, 
to  make  the  journey  at  as  small  a pecuniary 
cost  as  possible.  But  could  he  travel  with 
the  common  herd  ? Such  an  idea  could 
not  be  entertained  for  a moment.  He 
would  condescend  to  use  the  railway  if 
government  would  agree  to  furnish  caste 
carriages.  Perhaps  the  authorities  ought 
to  have  been  impressed  by  such  a measure 
of  condescension,  but  they  were  not,  and 
firmly  refused  to  make  the  concession.  At 
length  these  lords  of  the  land  yielded  to 
the  inevitable,  and  took  their  journeys  in 
the  same  carriage  with  ordinary  mortals. 
Doubtless  the  pride  of  the  Brahman  was 
sorely  wounded  and  with  a bad  grace  he 
submitted  to  the  indignity  at  the  outset, 
but  now  he  accepts  without  remonstrance 
a condition  of  things  which  he  finds  himself 
powerless  to  remedy. 

Wealthy  natives  sometimes  travel  in 
great  state — not  infrequently  in  reserved 
carriages — and  a native  prince  sometimes 
aspires  to  the  dignity  of  a special  train.  A 


AN  INDIAN  RAIL  WA  Y-STA  TION.  I 7 

rail  way- train  usually  makes  long  halts  at 
the  more  important  cities  along  the  route. 
At  such  times  I have  frequently  seen  a 
native  gentleman  arrayed  in  flowing  robes 
richly  embroidered  and  turban  of  vast  di- 
mensions alight  from  a first-class  reserved 
carriage  and  with  haughty  mien,  not  con- 
descending to  be  interested  or  amused  by 
anything  that  was  passing  around  him, 
walk  up  and  down  the  platform,  never  very 
far  from  his  own  carriage  and  followed  by  a 
small  army  of  retainers  in  nondescript  livery. 
Sometimes  thrown  gracefully  over  the  shoul- 
ders of  one  of  these  gentlemen  we  see  a 
superb  Kashmir  shawl.  Some  of  these 
elegant  gentry  are  native  princes  on  their 
way  to  Simla  or  Calcutta  to  pay  their  re- 
spects to  the  viceroy ; others  are  making  a 
pilgrimage  to  some  famous  shrine.  Less 
important  persons  of  wealth  are  content 
with  a seat  in  a first-class  carriage. 

o 

The  great  majority  of  travelers,  however, 
high  caste  as  well  as  low  caste,  travel  as 
third-class  passengers,  and  very  uncom- 
fortable they  look,  for  the  third-class  pas- 
senger-carriages are  often  literally  packed. 

2 


1 8 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


A carriage  is  divided  into  several  compart- 
ments, separated  only  by  an  iron  grating, 
and  every  seat  usually  holds  its  full  com- 
plement of  passengers.  Into  these  com- 
partments, when  trains  arrive,  are  hurried 
people  of  all  castes  and  creeds,  women  as 
well  as  men.  A traveler’s  luggage  usually 
consists  of  a bundle,  which  he  carries  slung 
over  his  shoulder ; but  when  the  space 
assigned  to  each  passenger  is  so  limited,  it 
is  not  easy  to  find  room  even  for  his  small 
possessions.  Occasionally  we  see  a railway- 
carriage  with  a low  upper  story,  and  on  the 
floor,  as  closely  as  they  can  be  packed,  sit 
travelers  looking  through  the  grratin^s  down 
upon  the  world  below  with  as  much  com- 
plaisance as  though  the  situation  were  com- 
fortable in  the  extreme. 

Whenever  a train  arrives  at  a station, 
from  every  window,  as  soon  as  the  train  is 
at  rest,  heads  are  thrust  and  arms  extended, 
each  hand  grasping  a small  brass  vessel, 
and  on  every  side  are  heard  clamorous 
cries  for  water — cries  which  become  more 
urgent  as  the  thirsty  travelers  begin  to  fear 
that  the  train  will  rush  away  leaving  their 


AN  INDIAN  RAIL  WA  Y-STA  TION.  1 9 

thirst  unquenched.  Water-carriers  are  at 
the  stations  upon  the  arrival  of  every  train, 
their  water-bottles  slung  across  their  backs, 
ready  to  answer  these  clamorous  cries. 
Venders  of  sweetmeats  and  fruit  also  im- 
prove the  time  while  trains  are  halting  to 
supply  travelers,  and,  as  in  these  days  so 
many  are  able  to  read,  we  see  books  and 
tracts  offered  for  sale  at  the  railway-trains, 
and  they  find  ready  purchasers. 

Some  of  the  lines  of  rail  are  furnished 
with  “zenana-carriages,”  and  in  these  na- 
tive ladies  travel  with  some  degree  of 
comfort  and  with  the  privacy  they  esteem 
so  desirable.  When  such  accommodation 
is  lacking,  high-caste  ladies  of  wealth 
usually  ride  in  reserved  compartments,  and 
there,  secure  from  intrusion,  they  can  look 
out  upon  the  world  of  which  they  know  so 
little,  and  can  enjoy  with  the  fresh  delight 
of  children  the  wonderful  things  around 
them. 

The  husband  of  a native  lady  of  my 
acquaintance  has  employment  in  one  of  the 
offices  connected  with  the  government  of 
the  North-west  Provinces,  and  accompanies 


20 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


his  superior  to  Naina-Tal  during  the  hot 
months.  His  wife,  a clever  and  cheery 
little  woman,  looks  forward  with  pleasant 
anticipations  to  these  annual  flittings.  She 
enjoys  the  ride  in  a reserved  compartment 
of  a railway-carriage  to  the  foot  of  the 
hills ; the  journey  up  the  mountains  to  the 
beautiful  town  of  Naini-Tal  is  full  of  de- 
lightful excitement  for  her,  and  the  life  in 
the  mountains,  so  unlike  the  monotonous 
life  of  the  plains,  is  not  less  agreeable.  I 
saw  this  lady  just  before  she  left  her  home 
to  spend  the  summer  in  the  mountains,  and 
in  the  prospect  she  seemed  as  happy  as  a 
child. 

“ How  do  you  spend  your  time  when  in 
the  mountains?”  I asked. 

The  little  lady  took  from  a niche  in  the 
wall  her  store  of  books,  a large  proportion 
of  which  were  Christian  books  which  she 
had  purchased  from  a lady  who  pays  her 
occasional  visits  to  give  her  instruction. 
Putting  these  into  my  hands,  she  said, 

“ I read ; and  when  I am  tired,  I em- 
broider;” and,  going  into  an  inner  room, 
my  friend  brought  from  thence  for  my 


AN  INDIAN  RAIL  WA  Y-STA  TION. 


21 


inspection  several  pieces  of  delicate  lace 
embroidery- work. 

Although  the  fare  for  third-class  passen- 
gers is  very  low,  yet,  because  of  the  great 
numbers  who  avail  themselves  of  this  cheap 
and  easy  mode  of  transit,  the  railway- 
companies  find  the  sale  of  third-class  tick- 
ets one  of  their  chief  sources  of  revenue. 
The  directors  of  one  of  the  great  railway- 
lines in  India  met  not  lonor  since  in  London 

o 

for  the  transaction  of  business.  Upon  an 
examination  of  the  yearly  accounts  it  was 
found  that  the  receipts  had  fallen  off  con- 
siderably, and  in  explanation  it  was  alleged 
that  the  year  just  closed  had  been  declared 
by  the  Hindu  astrologers  as  unpropitious 
for  marriages  amonq  Hindus,  and  that  in 
consequence  the  number  of  third-class 
passengers  had  been  much  smaller  than 
during  previous  years.  In  order  to  en- 
courage to  the  fullest  possible  extent  rail- 
way-traveling among  the  masses,  many  of 
the  lines  of  rail  have  reduced  the  fare  for 
third-class  passengers  to  less  than  half  a 
cent  per  mile. 

But  the  natives  of  India  are  not  the  only 


22 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


travelers  by  rail : there  are  European 

travelers  not  a few.  Some  are  strangers 
journeying  for  pleasure — these  are  our 
cold-weather  birds  of  passage — but  the  larg- 
er proportion  are  those  whose  homes  for 
a season  are  here.  Some  are  just  entering 
upon  life  and  service  in  India,  and  for  such 
everything  is  invested  with  the  charm  of 
novelty ; others  are  returning  to  the  lands 
from  whence  they  came,  and,  worn  with 
toil  or  suffering  from  ill-health,  India  has 
lost  all  attraction  for  them.  When  the  hot 
season  opens,  the  tide  of  travel  is  toward 
the  mountains  or  the  sea.  Anxious  mothers 
take  to  the  mountains  little  children  thin 
and  pale,  and  after  a few  months  spent  in 
the  cool  and  healthful  climate  of  the  Hima- 
layas bring  back  their  little  ones  with  round- 
ed limbs  and  cheeks  rosy  with  health. 

A long  railway-journey  in  the  heat  of  an 
Indian  summer  not  only  is  very  trying,  but 
travelers  sometimes  succumb  to  the  heat. 
A lady  recently  traveling  alone  from  Bom- 
bay to  Madras  was  found  dead  in  the 
railway-carriage  just  before  the  train  reached 
Madras.  On  his  round  the  ticket-con- 


AN  INDIAN  RAIL  IVA  Y-STA  TION.  2 3 

ductor  saw  the  lady  lying  on  one  of  the 
seats,  apparently  asleep,  and  tapped  loudly 
at  the  door,  but,  failing  to  arouse  her, 
entered  the  compartment,  and  found  the 
lady,  not  asleep,  but  quite  dead.  The  body 
and  the  luggage  belonging  to  the  lady  were 
removed  from  the  train  and  retained  at  the 
station.  A medical  officer  was  summoned, 
and  an  examination  proved  that  the  lady 
had  died  from  heat-apoplexy.  The  body 
of  the  stranger  was  committed  to  the  grave 
the  same  evening. 

During  the  summer  of  one  of  the  earlier 
years  of  our  life  in  India  we  made  a journey 
to  the  Himalayas.  Stepping  from  the  rail- 
way-train at  the  close  of  a day  of  great 
heat,  we  saw  the  door  of  the  compartment 
adjoining  our  own  thrown  open,  and  a 
crentleman  was  found  there  in  a state  of 

o 

insensibility,  stricken  down  by  the  terrible 
heat.  With  the  appliances  at  present  in 
use  for  reducing  the  heat  in  railway-car- 
riages, such  cases  of  prostration  are  less 
frequent  than  formerly  they  were. 


CHAPTER  II. 


A MORNING  IN  AN  INDIAN  BAZAAR. 

OME  with  me  this  morning  into  the 


city,  that  you  may  have  a glimpse  of 
an  Indian  bazaar.  I will  lend  you  a covered 
umbrella  and  a sun-hat,  and,  if  your  eyes 
are  sensitive,  tinted  glasses  also,  for  the 
glare  in  this  fierce  heat  is  dazzling.  We 

o O 

are  two  miles  or  more  from  the  city,  and 
at  this  season  of  the  year  much  walking  is 
impossible.  We  must  drive,  of  course, 
and,  as  the  carriage  is  at  the  door,  let  us 
go  at  once. 

The  long  lines  of  men  and  women  bear- 
ing baskets  on  their  heads  are  on  the  way 
to  market.  The  greater  number,  you  see, 
are  women;  they  carry  heavy  loads,  but 
maintain  an  erect,  and  even  a graceful, 
carriage,  and  are  very  picturesque  in  their 
costume.  Look  at  that  woman  in  scarlet 
attire.  The  one  long  piece  of  cloth  which 


24 


A MORNING  IN  AN  INDIAN  BAZAAR.  25 

serves  the  purpose  of  skirt,  jacket  and 
covering  for  the  head  is  deftly,  and  even 
artistically,  arranged,  leaving  only  the  face 
exposed,  and  is  kept  in  place  without  the 
aid  of  needle,  pin,  hook,  string  or  button. 
From  the  right  arm,  uplifted  to  steady  the 
basket  of  golden  melons,  the  drapery  falls 
away,  revealing  the  brown  arm  covered 
halfway  to  the  elbow  with  bracelets — not, 
indeed,  of  precious  metal,  but  of  shellac, 
gay  in  color  and  ornamented  with  beads. 
Her  feet  are  bare,  but  upon  her  ankles 
there  are  bands  and  upon  her  toes  rings 
that  make  a tinkling  sound  as  she  moves 
alono\  Some  of  the  women  are  dressed  in 

o 

blue,  some  in  yellow  and  some  in  soiled 
white  garments;  but  the  drapery  of  all  is 
arranged  in  the  same  fashion. 

o 

There  is  a man  carrying  a large  bundle 
upon  his  head,  but  he  walks  along  ap- 
parently unconscious  of  his  load,  his  hands 
hanging  by  his  side,  and  so  erect  in  car- 
riage that  his  perfectly-poised  bundle  is  in 
no  danger  of  falling. 

H ere  comes  a fine  carriage  drawn  by  a 
pair  of  spirited  horses.  There  are  out- 


26 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


riders  in  gorgeous  livery,  and,  sitting  in 
state,  like  a king  on  his  throne,  is  a fair 
boy  seven  or  eight  years  of  age,  richly 
dressed  and  covered  with  ornaments.  That 
is  the  cherished  son  of  some  wealthy  Hindu 
out  for  his  morning  airing. 

o o 

Just  behind  the  handsome  carriage  comes 
creaking  along  a rude  cart  with  ponderous 
wooden  wheels  and  drawn  by  bullocks  with 
large  humps  between  their  shoulders.  Over 
the  framework  which  crowns  the  top  a 
faded  red  cover  is  thrown.  Under  that 
dingy  awning,  seated  on  the  bottom  of  the 
cart,  is  a company  of  women  and  girls  on 
their  way  to  the  Ganges  to  bathe.  They 
are  as  merry  as  children  out  for  a holiday, 
and  as  the  clumsy  vehicle  creaks  past  us 
we  hear  ripples  of  laughter  low  and  musi- 
cal. 

Here  comes  dashing  by  us  a curious 
conveyance  drawn  by  a very  small  native 
pony.  Every  inch  of  space  in  the  vehicle 
seems  appropriated,  and  hanging  over  the 
front  and  dangling  down  the  sides  are  a 
marvelous  number  of  human  limbs.  You 
are  surprised  at  the  whiteness  of  the  rai- 


A MORNING  IN  AN  INDIAN  BAZAAR.  2 7 

ment  and  at  the  glossy  blackness  of  the 
shoes.  These  men  are  writers  in  govern- 
ment offices,  and  they  must  appear  in  spot- 
less apparel  before  their  superiors.  But 
you  would  be  astonished  could  you  see  the 
homes  from  which  faultlessly-attired  native 
gentlemen  come;  many  of  them  are  mere 
mud  hovels  destitute  of  furniture,  and  your 
fine  gentleman  sits  on  the  ground  to  partake 
of  his  food,  which  he  conveys  to  his  mouth 
with  the  fingers  of  his  right  hand.  Yet 
there  is  some  state  connected  with  even  so 
simple  a repast,  for  the  wife  serves  her 
husband,  sitting  or  standing  reverentially 
behind  him,  ready  to  obey  his  slightest 
command,  and  glad,  poor  soul ! to  appease 
her  own  hunger  when  her  lord  and  master 
has  satisfied  his  wants  and  retired  from  the 
scene. 

Under  that  lar^e  umbrella  made  of  bam- 
boo  splints,  with  the  handle  stuck  in  the 
ground,  sits  a shoemaker  busily  plying  his 
trade,  and  here  comes  a customer — a 
traveler  who  is  glad  to  have  his  worn 
sandals  repaired  while  he  rests  by  the 
roadside  and  refreshes  himself  with  his 


28 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


hookah.  There  is  a well  opposite,  and  the 
traveler  has  his  own  brass  vessel  and  a 
long  strong  cord  with  which  to  let  down  his 
cup  into  the  cool  depths  below  and  bring 
up  pure,  sweet  water  with  which  to  quench 
his  thirst. 

But  look  at  that  woman  stepping  away 
from  the  well,  a large  brass  vessel  filled 
with  water  poised  upon  her  head.  Re- 
bekah  at  the  well,  so  long  ago,  must  have 
presented  to  Abraham’s  trusted  servant 
just  such  a picture  as  this  woman  furnishes 
us  with  to-day.  On  that  broad  platform  of 
masonry  around  the  well,  where  so  many 
women  are  now  waiting  to  fill  their  water- 
jars,  travelers  often  sit  to  rest,  as  the 
Saviour,  weary  with  his  journey,  sat  by 
Sychar’s  well  and  conversed  with  the  wo- 
man of  Samaria. 

Close  beside  the  well  is  a temple.  Look 
at  those  women  pressing  into  it.  One  of 
the  number  leads  by  the  hand  a pretty 
little  girl.  The  brass  cup  which  the  mother 
carries  is  filled  with  water  from  the  Ganges, 
which  she  will  pour  over  the  idol,  and  the 
garland  of  fragrant  white  blossoms  in  the 


eastern  women  carrying  water, 


30 


BITS  ABOUT  LYDIA. 


hand  of  the  little  maiden  will  be  presented 
to  the  temple-divinity. 

There  is  a poor  leper  sitting  by  the  wayside 
begging.  He  holds  up  to  view  his  maimed 
hands  and  utters  piteous  cries,  but  it  will 
not  be  a kindness  to  bestow  alms  upon 
him.  For  such  afflicted  ones  there  is  an 
asylum  outside  the  city  where  all  their 
needs  are  supplied,  where  they  are  nursed 
in  sickness,  and  where,  also,  they  are  in- 
structed by  those  who  have  a care  for  their 
souls  as  well  as  for  their  bodies.  Yet  this 
man  prefers  to  beg;  he  likes  the  freedom 
of  such  a life,  and  perhaps  finds  his  calling 
profitable. 

A blind  man  led  by  a small  boy  is  follow- 
ing our  carriage,  and  now  a wretched- 
looking  woman  with  a puny  babe  in  her 
arms  rushes  toward  us.  For  the  blind  man 
as  well  as  for  the  leper  there  is  a refuge 
where  his  physical  wants  will  be  supplied, 
but  this  life  is  his  choice  ; and  the  woman 
with  that  miserable  infant  is  a professional 
beggar,  and  I question  if  she  would  esteem 
it  a blessing  could  her  afflicted  child  be 
made  perfectly  whole,  since  she  gains  a 


A MORNING  IN  AN  INDIAN  BAZAAR.  3 I 

livelihood  by  the  public  exhibition  of  its 
deformities. 

But  here  we  are  in  the  city.  And  what 
a tumult ! All  the  roads  leading  to  the 
market-place  are  thronged  with  people. 
Those  women  with  large  wicker  baskets 
filled  with  water-jars  upon  their  heads  have 
come  from  villages  where  potters  ply  their 
trade.  Those  men  bearing  boxes  upon 
their  heads  are  starting  out  for  a day’s 
peddling;  they  will  go  from  bungalow  to 
bungalow,  offering  for  sale  a strange  assort- 
ment  of  articles — writing-paper  and  hair- 
brushes, castor-oil  and  ribbons,  corn-flour 
and  shoe-blacking.  The  postmen  collect- 
ing- mail-matter  from  the  letter-boxes  are 
all  mounted  on  bicycles — a great  saving  of 
time  and  of  strength.  There  is  no  lack  of 

o 

policemen,  but  activity  is  not  one  of  their 
distinguishing  virtues.  Their  gay  livery, 
however,  furnishes  a cheerful  bit  of  color 
— scarlet  turban,  blue  blouse  and  orange 
trousers. 

Here  is  a wedding-procession.  The 
bridegroom  is  but  a child,  yet  he  looks 
very  grave  sitting  under  his  gilded  canopy, 


32 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


as  if  he  fully  appreciated  the  dignity  of  his 
position.  The  wail  that  is  borne  to  our 
ears  is  from  a funeral-train  ; for  here,  as  in 
other  lands,  joy  and  sorrow  meet. 

The  shops  are  open.  Here  are  native 
tailors  quite  at  home  in  the  use  of  sewing- 
machines — imported,  of  course,  from  Eu- 
rope. Here  is  a money-changer,  his  heaps 
of  small  coin  and  shells  on  a low  table 
before  him.  Look  at  that  cloth-merchant 
sitting  cross-leo-o-ed  on  the  floor,  his  cus- 
tomer  seated  opposite  him  and  the  cloth 
he  is  displaying  spread  out  between  them. 
The  merchant  has  about  his  neck  a massive 
gold  chain,  though  his  raiment  is  scanty. 
The  pretty  little  boy  in  gold-embroidered 
tunic  and  wearing  so  many  and  such  costly 
ornaments  is  the  merchant’s  son,  and  the 
father  is  evidently  very  proud  of  his  dar- 
ling. 

In  this  shop  close  at  hand  I have  an  er- 
rand. A servant  has  entered  just  before 
us;  he  has  returned  a glass  dish  that  has 
been  sent  to  his  master  on  inspection.  The 
merchant,  rising  to  serve  us,  finds  it  neces- 
sary to  remove  this  article.  “Why  does  he 


SCENE  IN  AN  ORIENTAL  BAZAAR. 


3 


34 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


pour  water  over  his  hands?”  you  ask? 
Listen  to  his  explanation : 

“ I am  a Brahman,  and  by  the  rules  of 
my  caste  am  defiled  by  touching  anything 
that  has  come  in  contact  with  a person  of 
inferior  caste.” 

“ But  you  are  an  intelligent  man,  and 
know  that  real  purity  is  not  lost  by  such 
outward  contact.” 

“ I know — I know,”  our  high-caste  friend 
replies;  “but  if  I do  not  observe  these 
ceremonies,  I shall  be  put  out  of  caste, 
and  that  would  be  a calamity  indeed.  But 
there  is  less  bondage  to  caste  than  there  was 
a few  years  ago,  when  I began  my  career  as  a 
merchant.  My  father  was  very  angry  then 
because  my  stock  in  trade  included  some 
articles  regarded  by  the  Brahmans  as  un- 
clean, but  I knew  there  was  no  help  for  it 
if  I would  compete  successfully  with  other 
business-men.  Now  no  one  thinks  or 
speaks  of  such  things.” 

The  shop  just  beyond  this  one  is  kept  by 
a Moslem.  That  pleasant-faced  young  lad 
seated  on  a mat  outside  the  door  and 
swaying  backward  and  forward,  an  open 


A MORNING  IN  AN  INDIAN  BAZAAR.  35 

book  before  him,  is  reading  the  Koran.  I 
often  see  him  here  in  the  morning,  his 
tongue  moving  just  as  glibly  as  at  present. 
H is  father  is  en^a^ed  in  his  devotions,  his 
face  toward  Mecca.  You  perhaps  wonder 
why  he  does  not  choose  a less  public  place 
for  such  a service.  He  is  like  the  hypo- 
crites of  old : he  prays  to  be  seen  of  men  ; 
and,  though  apparently  so  devout,  he  has  a 
keen  eye  to  business,  and  will  not  allow 
his  prayers  to  interfere  with  his  chance  of 
securing  a customer.  We  will  not  disturb 

o 

him,  however,  but  will  make  our  purchases 
elsewhere.  But  no  ! He  sees  that  we  are 
about  to  retire,  and  beckons  us  to  enter. 
Intent  upon  driving  a shrewd  bargain  as 
we  shall  find  him,  it  will  be  difficult  to 
realize  that  he  has  just  risen  from  his 
knees. 

I must  call  at  a banking-house  not  far 
from  this  shop,  but  I will  not  detain  you 
long.  “Do  I call  this  a banking-house?” 
Yes,  a long-established  and  very  prosper- 
ous one.  The  men  sitting  cross-legged 
against  the  wall,  with  low  desks  before 
them  and  great  books  across  their  knees, 


36 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


are  members  of  one  family.  The  head  of 
the  establishment — without  whose  advice 
and  approval  no  important  venture  is  made 
— is  an  old  man,  the  father  of  several  sons, 
all  engaged  with  him  in  business,  as  are 
also  some  of  the  grandsons.  They  dwell 
together  as  one  family,  though  they  number 
several  generations.  Sad  to  say,  they  are 
all  devout  Hindus — at  least,  outwardly  so. 
Yet  how  much  real  devotion  or  sincerity 
there  may  be  in  their  worship  it  is  not  so 
easy  to  tell. 

Let  us  now  turn  our  steps  toward  the 
market.  A troublesome  woman  who  some- 
times brings  fruit  to  the  bungalow  for  sale 
has  followed  us. 

“ Buy  my  lichees,”  she  says ; “ they  are 
very  sweet.” 

“ So  you  said  when  I purchased  from  you 
a few  days  ago,  but  they  were  so  sour  they 
could  not  be  eaten.” 

Coming  nearer,  taking  the  basket  from 
her  head  and  placing  it  on  the  ground,  she 
holds  up  before  us  a handful  of  lichees, 
saying  in  a very  persuasive  tone, 

“ If  these  be  not  sweet,  may  the  son  of 


A MORNING  IN  AN  INDIAN  BAZAAR. 


37 


my  heart  be  taken  away  at  a stroke!'’ 
Then,  after  a pause,  she  adds,  “ Buy  ; and 
if  you  find  the  fruit  not  fresh  and  sweet, 
you  may  give  me  a hundred  blows  with 
your  shoe.” 

This  last,  she  thinks,  will  assuredly  im- 
press us  with  the  truth  of  her  assertion  ; 
for  to  receive  a castigation  with  a shoe  is 

o 

regarded  as  a great  indignity.  Yet  we 
know  the  arts  of  her  trade  too  well  to  rate 
very  highly  even  such  extravagant  assev- 
erations as  this ; so  we  are  not  persuaded 
to  buy  her  lichees. 

Now  a man  confronts  us. 

“ My  fruit  is  really  excellent,”  he  says,  in 
a very  earnest  tone  and  manner. 

While  we  stop  to  examine  it  another 
hawker,  equally  anxious  to  serve  us,  presses 
up  and  says, 

“ My  fruit  is  quite  as  good,  and  much 
cheaper.” 

Now  a woman’s  shrill  voice  calls  out,  “ Buy 
my  fruit  because  I am  old  and  poor;”  and 
rising  up  from  the  midst  of  her  baskets  is 
an  old  woman  who  shows  us  her  white 
locks. 


3^ 


BITS  ABOUT  IXDIA. 


“ Will  you  not  take  pity  upon  my  old 
age  and  feebleness  ?”  she  cries  out. 

Let  us  purchase  our  supplies  from  this 
woman,  and  then  retreat  from  such  a babel ; 
for  it  is  growing  late,  and  the  heat  is  be- 
coming very  oppressive.  We  will  now 
close  the  sliding-doors  of  the  carriage  and 
drive  home  with  as  little  delay  as  possible. 
We  have  had  glimpses  enough  of  the 
scenes  in  an  Indian  bazaar  to  give  us  a 
fair  conception  of  what  it  is  like. 


CHAPTER  III. 


WAYSIDE  SCENES  IN  INDIA. 

HE  year  in  India  is  divided  into  three 


seasons — the  cold  season,  the  hot  sea- 


son and  the  rainy  season.  In  North  India, 
during  the  hot  season,  “the  winds  blow 
flames.”  All  work  outside  and  all  business 
in  which  Europeans  are  engaged,  whether 
in  offices,  in  schools  or  in  shops,  is  trans- 
acted, as  far  as  possible,  in  the  morning,  or 
in  the  evening  after  the  heat  of  the  day  has 
somewhat  abated.  Day  after  day  and  week 
after  week  the  sun  rides  through  a brazen 
sky.  The  earth  is  parched  and  there  is  no 
beauty  to  delight  the  eye.  But  when  the 
rainy  season  comes,  the  whole  face  of  na- 
ture is  changed,  and  as  if  by  magic  the  bare 
brown  earth  is  covered  with  a mantle  of 
green,  flowers  burst  into  bloom  and  every- 
thing is  instinct  with  life.  At  this  season 


39 


40 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


the  husbandmen  are  busy  in  their  fields, 
preparing  the  ground  and  sowing  the  seed. 

Some  of  the  hills  not  far  from  our  bun- 
galow are  covered  with  luxuriant  vines  bear- 
ing a large  coarse  cucumber  which  is  much 
relished  by  the  people.  Every  morning  we 
see  the  busy  owners  of  these  fields  filling 
large  baskets  with  cucumbers  for  the  mar- 
ket.  In  every  such  field  we  see  just  what 
is  mentioned  in  Scripture — “a  lodge  in  a 
garden  of  cucumbers.”  A few  light  poles 
are  stuck  into  the  ground  and  tied  together 
with  coarse  twine  or  bark,  and  the  whole  is 
covered  with  a roof  of  straw.  Such  a lodge 

o 

has  an  occupant  by  night  as  well  as  by  day 
until  the  produce  of  the  field  has  all  been 
secured.  When  the  watcher,  relieved  from 
his  vigils,  lies  down  to  sleep,  he  wraps  him- 
self from  head  to  foot  in  a sheet  or  blanket, 
until  he  looks  like  a mummy;  when  he 
wakens,  he  shakes  himself  free  from  his 
covering,  and  his  toilet  is  made.  Some- 
times the  wife  comes  to  cook  food  for  her 
husband  and  her  sons,  but  frequently  they 
prepare  their  own  food.  As  many  of  these 
fields  are  close  to  the  roadside,  passers-by 


WA  YSIDE  SCENES  IN  INDIA. 


41 


frequently  stop  to  purchase,  and  the  monot- 
ony of  the  day’s  vigil  is  thus  relieved. 

In  the  fields  in  which  cucumbers  are  now 
growing  wheat  and  other  grains  will  soon 
be  sown.  The  cold  season  in  India  is  the 
season  of  fruit  and  flowers.  The  gardens 
produce  vegetables  in  variety  and  abun- 
dance ; in  the  fields  rich  stores  of  grain 
are  ripening.  At  this  season,  in  all  the 
fields,  lodges  may  be  seen.  To  the  little 
perch  under  the  thatch  the  watcher  climbs, 
and  here  the  owner  of  the.  field,  relieved 
by  some  member  of  his  family  or  a trust- 
ed servant,  spends  his  time  day  and  night 
until  the  ripening  grain  is  gathered.  The 
lodge  is  then  abandoned,  but  the  store  of 
precious  grain  is  guarded  until  the  oxen 
have  trodden  out  the  corn  and  the  last 
measure  has  been  removed  from  the  field. 
During  the  time  of  threshing  and  winnow- 
ing  the  owner  sleeps  in  the  midst  of  his 
“ heap  of  corn,”  as  did  Boaz. 

As  we  have  passed  such  fields  after 
nightfall  we  have  seen  the  glow  of  little 
fires  by  which  food  was  being  prepared, 
and  around  which  the  owners  of  the  grain 

o 


42 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


sat  in  groups,  chatting  and  smoking  the 
hookah. 

Some  of  the  roads  in  this  part  of  India 
are  bordered  by  mango  trees.  These  trees 
are  the  property  of  government,  and  each 
year  the  unripe  fruit  is  sold  upon  the  trees 
to  persons  who  watch  the  fruit  until  it  ma- 
tures. The  mango  is  prized  not  only  by 
natives  of  India,  but  by  Europeans  also, 
and  therefore  finds  ready  sale.  From 
April  until  July,  while  the  fruit  is  ripen- 
ing under  these  trees  by  the  road  side  we  see 
booths  made  sometimes  of  the  branches  of 
trees  and  sometimes  like  the  lodges  now  in 
the  fields.  Under  many  of  the  trees,  as 
the  branches  are  low  and  widespreading 
and  the  foliage  heavy,  there  is  only  the  rude 
cot  upon  which  the  guardian  of  the  trees  sits 
by  day  and  on  which  he  rests  at  night.  Some- 
times, under  one  of  these  great  trees,  an 
entire  family  take  up  their  abode  while  the 
fruit  is  ripening.  The  father  watches  sharp- 
ly the  boys  and  the  birds  whose  covetous 
eyes  are  upon  the  fruit  which  he  hopes  in 
due  time  to  turn  into  silver.  The  mother 
prepares  the  food — not  a difficult  matter, 


WA  YSIDE  SCENES  IN  INDIA. 


43 


though  the  mouths  may  be  many.  A little 
range  of  mud  is  easily  made,  and  a handful 
of  twigs,  which  the  children  gather,  cooks 
the  dal : the  mother  kneads  thin  cakes  for 
bread,  which  are  quickly  baked  on  the  coals, 
and  the  meal  is  ready.  The  father  and  the 
sons  are  served  sitting  upon  the  ground  and 
using  only  their  fingers  to  convey  the  food 
to  the  mouth;  when  their  hunger  has  been 
appeased,  the  other  members  of  the  fam- 
ily cluster  eagerly  around.  In  these  frugal 
households  there  is  no  surplus,  and  soon  the 
last  morsel  has  disappeared.  With  a little 
water  and  the  fine  earth  at  her  feet  the 
mother  then  scours  the  vessels  that  have 
been  used  and  carefully  stows  them  away. 
This  work  done,  she  sits  idly  upon  the 
ground,  plays  with  her  children  or  lazily 
turns  her  spinning-wheel.  The  little  ones 
sport  under  the  trees  or  wander  away  to 
visit  children  living  under  neighboring  trees. 
In  this  idle  way  these  poor  people  are  quite 
content  to  pass  their  time. 

The  fruit  so  carefully  guarded  is  sold  as 
it  ripens.  Passing  travelers  make  small 
purchases,  giving  with  their  price  such 


44 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


items  of  news  as  they  have  picked  up  by 
the  way.  Men  come  with  empty  baskets, 
which  after  much  bargaining  they  carry 
away  on  their  heads  filled  with  luscious 
fruit,  which  they  sell  from  house  to  house 
or  carry  at  once  to  the  public  market. 
Servants  come  to  buy  fresh  fruit  for  the 
table  of  their  masters.  This  is  the  reap- 
ing-time,  and  the  owners  of  the  fruit  find 
pleasant  occupation  in  counting  their  gains. 
It  is  an  anxious,  patience-trying  time  as 
well,  for  the  crow — which  gains  a livelihood 
by  pilfering,  which  it  pursues  as  a lawful 
calling — seems  as  fond  of  the  rich  golden 
fruit  of  the  mango  tree  as  does  man  him- 
self, and  quite  as  determined  to  have  its 
full  share ; so  that  through  all  the  day,  and 
even  into  the  night,  the  shrill  voices  of  the 
guardians  of  the  richly-laden  trees  are 
mingled  with  the  shriller  cries  of  the  im- 
pudent  crows.  Not  infrequently  the  birds 
become  so  bold  that  they  pay  little  heed  to 
the  hoarsest  shouting ; then  smooth  stones 
sent  from  a sling  with  skillful  hand  are 
freely  used. 

Under  a mango  tree  close  to  the  road- 

o 


WA  YSIDE  SCENES  EV  INDIA.  45 

side,  and  not  far  from  our  bungalow,  lived 
a man  for  two  or  three  months  watching 
the  fruit  on  the  boughs  above  him.  This 
man  did  not  enjoy  the  luxury  of  a bed, 
but  when  he  slept  he  spread  on  the  ground 
a mat  or  a strip  of  coarse  cloth.  His  wife 
brought  his  food  and  spent  a part  of  each 
day  under  the  tree,  busy  with  her  little 
spinning-wheel. 

An  Oriental  knows  nothing  of  the  value 
of  tiiiie,  and  idly  waits  weeks,  and  even 
months,  for  the  grain  in  the  fields  to  mature 
or  the  fruit  on  the  trees  to  ripen,  taking 
little  more  note  of  time  than  do  the  birds 
singing  in  the  branches  above  him.  A 
servant,  when  sent  on  an  errand,  will  not 
mind  waiting  a whole  day  for  an  answer, 
provided  he  can  find  near  at  hand  a bazaar 
where  he  may  purchase  a few  handfuls 
of  parched  grain  with  which  to  satisfy  his 
hunger. 

Through  the  grounds  of  a gentleman 
whose  home  is  in  a pretty  village  at  the 
foot  of  a low  range  of  mountains  in  the 
North  of  India  flows  a stream  which  during 
the  rains  is  wide  and  deep,  but  whose  bed 


46 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


during  the  hot  season  is  often  quite  dry. 
One  day,  after  a very  heavy  shower,  the 
gentleman,  walking  through  his  grounds, 
found  the  bed  of  the  stream  full  and  the 
water  tumbling  and  dashing  over  the  rocks 
at  a furious  rate.  By  the  side  of  the  stream 
sat  several  boys. 

“What  are  you  doing  here?”  asked  the 
gentleman. 

“Waiting  for  the  brook  to  run  dry,  so 
that  we  can  pass  over,”  answered  one  of 
the  boys ; and  in  a few  hours  the  bed  of 
the  stream  was  again  empty,  and  the  boys 
passed  over  dry-shod. 

At  no  great  distance  from  our  house 
is  one  of  the  branch  post-offices  of  the 
city.  On  the  ground  in  front  of  this  office 
a mat  is  spread,  and  upon  it  sits  a man  day 
after  day,  by  his  side  a reed  pen  and  an 
inkstand  of  curious  shape,  and  between  two 
stones,  fluttering  in  the  wind,  a sheet  of 
paper.  This  man  is  a public  scribe.  The 
mat  on  which  he  sits  with  his  feet  drawn 
up  close  to  his  body  is  his  place  of  business, 
and  the  writing-materials  about  him  are  his 
advertisement.  Only  a small  proportion 


WA  YSIDE  SCENES  IN  INDIA.  47 

of  the  people  of  India  can  read  or  write ; 
and  when  a person  wishes  to  send  tidings 
to  a friend  or  to  an  absent  member  of  his 
household,  he  is  glad  to  employ  one  of 
these  scribes.  Sitting  on  the  mat  in  front 
of  this  functionary,  he  delivers  his  message, 
and  the  scribe  writes  to  his  dictation,  some- 
times suggesting  a topic  if  the  person  is  at 
a loss  for  a subject.  Passers-by  frequently 
stop  and,  sitting  down  by  the  parties,  listen 
to  what  is  said ; for  family  matters  are 
public  property  in  the  East.  When  the 
letter  is  finished,  it  is  directed  and  sealed, 
a small  price  is  paid  to  the  scribe  for  the 
service  rendered,  and  the  man  goes  on  his 
way  much  relieved  that  so  important  a task 
has  been  completed,  and  probably  wonder- 
ing how  that  bit  of  paper  with  its  curious 
signs  can  convey  his  thoughts  to  a person 
so  far  away.  When  the  letter  reaches  its 
destination,  the  receiver  will  probably  be 
unable  to  read  it;  it  is  therefore  carried  to 
a scribe,  or  to  some  acquaintance  who  has 
learned  to  write,  and  in  this  way  the  person 
interested  becomes  acquainted  with  its 
contents. 


48 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


In  India,  as  in  other  countries  where  the 
railway  has  been  introduced,  the  mails  are 
carried  by  this  means,  but  in  such  parts  of 
the  country  as  have  not  yet  been  penetrated 
by  the  railway,  and  especially  in  the  moun- 
tainous regions,  letters  are  often  carried  by 
runners.  One  man  carries  the  mail-matter 
entrusted  to  him  a certain  number  of  miles, 
where  it  is  delivered  to  a second  carrier, 
and  so  on,  until  it  reaches  its  destination. 
The  runners  wait  at  each  stage  until  they 
receive  the  return-mail,  which  is  carried  in 
the  same  manner.  Sometimes  one  man 
runs  alone,  and  sometimes  several  run 
together  if  there  is  a large  amount  of  mail- 
matter  or  if  the  road  to  be  traversed  is  one 
of  peculiar  danger.  Each  carrier  is  supplied 
with  a long  pole,  at  one  end  of  which  are 
suspended  the  sealed  mail-bags  and  to  the 
opposite  end  of  which  are  attached  several 
brass  ringrs,  which  make  a tinkling-  sound 
as  the  runner  hurries  along,  thus  announcing- 
his  approach.  This  sound  is  also  supposed 
to  frighten  away  wild  animals.  The  low 
and  marshy  lands  of  India  are  infested  with 
serpents,  while  in  the  forests  and  the  moun- 


WAYSIDE  SCNES  IN  INDIA. 


49 


tainous  regions  are  found  bears,  tigers,  and 
even  wild  elephants.  When  the  mail-car- 
riers are  seen  approaching,  travelers  on  the 
road  step  aside  to  let  them  pass  ; for  all 
understand  that  these  men  must  not  be 
hindered  in  their  journey. 

A few  years  ago,  when  we  were  travel- 
ing in  the  Himalayas,  we  saw  one  day 
coming  down  the  steep  mountain-path  a 
company  of  post-carriers  ; they  were  mov- 
ing along  with  the  trotting  gait  peculiar  to  this 
class  of  persons.  Each  carrier  was  armed 
with  a pole,  from  one  end  of  which  were 
suspended  the  mail-bags,  while  the  brass 
rings  on  the  opposite  end  kept  up  a tinkling 
sound  which  the  wind  bore  back  to  us  long 
after  the  carriers  had  passed.  On  another 
occasion  when  in  the  Himalayas,  looking 
out  after  nightfall  from  the  veranda  of  the 
rest-house  where  we  were  spending  the 
night,  we  saw  far  up  the  mountain-side  the 
glimmer  of  a torch.  We  had  that  day 
passed  over  the  same  road,  and  knew  that 
the  path  was  narrow  and  dangerous.  We 
watched  the  flickering  light  as  it  moved 
toward  us.  Sometimes  we  lost  sight  of  it 

4 


50 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


as  the  bearer  followed  some  curve  in  the 
mountain-path,  then  the  light  gleamed  out 
lower  down  the  mountain  and  nearer  us, 
until  at  length  it  passed  the  bungalow  and 
was  lost  in  the  darkness  beyond.  It  was 
the  torch  of  the  post-carrier  hastening  on 
his  way  with  his  precious  burden — letters  of 
business,  of  sympathy,  of  love,  which  will 
go  out  on  their  errands,  some  of  them 
across  seas  and  to  the  ends  of  the  earth. 

When  traveling  through  the  Valley  of 
Kashmir  our  tents  on  one  occasion  were 
pitched  for  the  night  on  a grassy  spot  under 
some  lar^e  lime  trees  and  not  far  from  the 
roadside.  Just  at  nightfall  we  saw  a man 
hastening  alon^  the  road,  looking  neither 
to  the  rmht  hand  nor  to  the  left.  He  did 

o 

not  carry  the  pole  with  which  the  bearers 
of  the  mail  are  usually  armed,  but  slung 
over  his  shoulder  was  a pain. 

o 

“Where  are  you  going  in  such  haste?” 
was  asked,  but  the  man  returned  no  an- 
swer. 

Some  one  standing  by  said, 

“ That  is  one  of  the  maharajah’s  postmen 
carrying  tidings  from  Srinagar,  the  capital, 


WA  YSIDE  SCENES  IN  INDIA. 


51 


to  Jama,  where  the  maharajah  lives ; and 
these  men  must  not  be  detained  even  to 
answer  questions,  for  the  king’s  business 
requires  haste.” 

Thus  we  get  glimpses  of  some  of  the 
common  wayside  scenes  in  India. 


CHAPTER  IV 


LEPERS  IN  INDIA. 


PROSY  in  India  is  painfully  preva- 


lent, and  is  found  both  in  the  moun- 
tains and  in  the  plains.  It  is  said  that  there 
are  in  India  at  least  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  thousand  sufferers  from  lepro- 
sy, and  some  authorities  place  the  number 
much  higher.  The  condition  of  no  class 
of  persons  is  so  deplorable  as  is  that  of 
the  lepers.  Not  only  are  they  the  victims 
of  a loathsome  and  incurable  disease,  their 
life  a living  death,  but  they  are  outcasts, 
homeless  and  helpless.  When  this  terrible 
malady  makes  its  appearance  in  a member 
of  a household,  the  afflicted  one  is  cast  out 
by  his  friends.  In  the  selfish  creed  of  the 
Hindus  there  is  no  place  for  compassion. 
“ How  shall  mortals  pity  those  with  whom 
the  gods  are  angry?”  they  coldly  question  ; 


ORIENTAL  LEPERS  RECEIVING  ALMS. 


54 


BITS  ABOUT  lA'D/A. 


and  so  from  the  home  where  he  has  been 
loved  and  honored  the  leper  goes  a hope- 
less, friendless  outcast.  Henceforth  no 
door  opens  to  welcome  him  and  no  voice 
falls  upon  his  ear  in  accents  of  kindness. 
Unable  to  toil,  he  begs,  sitting  by  the  way- 
side,  and  sleeps  where  night  overtakes 
him.  To  satisfy  his  hunger  he  gladly  takes 
such  food  as  is  thrown  to  him.  No  fear  of 
defilement  now,  for  who  so  vile  as  he  ? 
And  so  the  months  and  the  vears  drag 
wearily  on,  the  awful  disease  doing  its 
deadly  work,  until  the  maimed  and  scarred 
stump  that  remains  scarcely  seems  the 
tenement  of  a human  soul. 

The  people  of  India  provide  asylums 
and  hospitals  for  animals,  but  to  relieve 
the  sufferings  of  their  stricken  fellow-creat- 
ures  they  feel  no  responsibility.  Yet, 
though  the  inhabitants  of  this  land  are 
thus  indifferent  to  the  woes  of  their  coun- 
trymen, the  children  of  Christian  England 
have  been  moved  to  pity,  and  all  over  the 
land  there  are  now  asylums  for  lepers. 
Many  of  these  asylums,  though  receiving 
grants-in-aid  from  government,  are  under 


LEPERS  IN  INDIA. 


55 


the  superintendence  of  Christian  mission- 
aries, who,  while  dispensing-  the  bounty 
put  into  their  hands  for  the  physical  relief 
of  the  sufferers,  have  also  a care  for  their 
immortal  souls.  Some  of  the  most  devoted 
missionaries  that  India  has  known  have 
been  especially  interested  in  the  lepers. 
During  the  last  decade  the  work  has  been 
greatly  extended,  and  has  produced  most 
gratifying  results.  Lepers  as  a class  are 
accessible,  and  receive  the  glad  tidings 
with  peculiar  joy. 

The  little  town  of  Almora,  hidden  away 
in  the  Himalayas,  has  a large  asylum  for 
lepers — one  of  the  oldest  in  India.  On 
the  terraced  mountain-sides  are  rows  of 
pleasant  barracks  where  they  dwell,  and  to 
those  who  are  able  to  labor  a little  plot  of 
land  is  given  for  a garden.  From  this 
asylum  there  has  been  a large  ingathering 
of  converts.  At  one  time,  when  there  were 
sheltered  within  this  home  one  hundred 
and  thirty-six  lepers,  eighty  of  the  number 
were  professing  Christians.  As  all  the 
lepers,  Christian  and  non-Christian,  receive 
like  treatment,  there  can  be  no  selfish 


56 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


motive  to  induce  them  to  profess  a faith 
which  they  do  not  possess. 

Not  long  since  we  paid  a visit  to  Almora, 
and  one  morning  saw  the  poor  lepers  in 
their  homes.  The  older  and  more  infirm 
members  of  this  sad  community  were  sitting 
idly  in  the  pleasant  sunshine;  others  were 
busy  in  their  little  gardens,  while  some  of 
the  women  were  trying  to  sew,  and  looked 
up  with  a patient  smile  as  we  watched  their 
efforts  to  draw  the  needle  in  and  out  with 
their  poor  maimed  hands.  It  was  our 
privilege  on  a Sabbath  during  our  visit  to 
worship  in  the  little  chapel  where  daily 
for  prayers  and  Christian  instruction,  as 
well  as  for  special  religious  services  on 
the  Sabbath,  the  lepers  assemble. 

It  was  a lovely  afternoon  when  we  were 
borne  over  the  hills  along  shady  paths  to 
the  asylum-grounds.  As  we  reached  the 
crest  of  a hill,  looking  across  a glen  to  a 
hillside  opposite,  we  saw  among  the  trees 
the  long  lines  of  neat  barracks  provided  for 
the  lepers.  Higher  up  the  hill,  and  stand- 
ing a little  apart,  was  the  house  occupied 
by  the  superintendent,  a Christian  native, 


LEPERS  IN  INDIA.  57 

who,  with  his  wife,  has  long  assisted  in  the 
care  of  these  lepers. 

Surrounded  by  trees  was  the  pretty 
chapel,  and  on  the  clear  air  was  borne  to 
us  the  sound  of  a bell  calling  together  the 
worshipers.  When  we  reached  the  chapel, 
we  found  waiting  to  receive  us  the  veteran 
missionary,  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Budden,  who  for 
more  than  thirty  years  has  labored  to  make 
brighter  the  lives  of  these  suffering  ones 
and  to  point  them  to  the  Saviour. 

The  congregation  was  already  assembled 
when  we  entered  the  sanctuary,  the  lepers 
seated  in  rows  upon  the  neatly  matted 
floor.  Through  the  open  doors  and  win- 
dows the  sunlight  streamed  and  the  pure, 
fragrant  mountain-air  was  wafted  in.  The 
birds  chirped  musically  outside  and  the 
wrind  whistled  softly  through  the  pines.  It 
was  a sad  congregation — all  lepers  with 
the  exception  of  the  faithful  shepherd  of 
the  flock,  the  native  superintendent  and  his 
family  and  the  one  visitor.  The  women 
were  wrapped  in  the  sheet-like  covering 
commonly  worn  by  the  women  of  the 
country,  and  this  friendly  garment  served 


53 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


in  some  measure  to  hide  from  curious  eyes 
the  ravages  of  the  dreadful  disease  which 
was  slowly  consuming’  them.  The  faces 
of  some  of  the  men  were  so  marred  that 
it  was  painful  to  look  upon  them.  Some 
had  lost  their  hands,  others  were  crippled 
in  their  feet. 

The  congregation  was  a reverent  one  ; 
the  heads  of  the  worshipers  bowed  low  in 
prayer.  A psalm  was  read  responsively,  and 
in  this  part  of  the  service  the  congregation 
joined  heartily.  In  the  singing,  too,  they 
evidently  took  delight,  and  attentively  they 
listened  as  the  word  was  expounded.  A 
solemn  communion  service  followed,  the 
lepers  alone  partaking.  At  the  close  of  the 
service  a collection-plate  was  passed,  and  no 
one  could  look  unmoved  upon  the  offerings 
cast  into  the  treasury  of  the  Lord — small, 
indeed,  as  man’s  eye  regarded  them,  but, 
bestowed  out  of  their  deep  poverty,  they 
were  in  the  eyes  of  the  Master,  like  the 
mite  of  the  poor  widow,  greater  than  the 
gifts  of  the  rich. 

Near  us  sat  an  old  man,  a leper  and  blind ; 
by  his  side  was  a young  man  whose  fair  face 


LE PEA’S  IN  INDIA. 


59 


showed  no  trace  of  the  foul  disease  which 
had  made  him  in  his  youth  a despised  out- 
cast. When  the  offerings  were  being  made, 

O O 1 

this  young  man  lifted  from  the  floor,  where 
they  had  been  placed  during  the  service, 
some  copper  coins,  and  put  them  into  the 
hand  of  the  blind  man,  that  he  might  pre- 
sent his  own  offerings. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  service,  we  passed 
down  the  aisle  between  the  rows  of  wor- 
shipers, and  then  out  again  into  the  sun- 
shine, with  thankful  hearts  for  bodies  phy- 
sically whole. 

The  late  Rev.  James  Vaughan,  who  was 
greatly  interested  in  the  lepers  in  Calcutta, 
says,  in  an  account  of  his  work,  “ After 
prayerful,  patient,  persevering  work  among 
them,  one  convert  rewarded  our  efforts. 
Very  soon  others  laid  hold  on  Christ,  and 
the  leper  asylum  contained  a leper  church, 
as  these  interesting  converts  fitted  up,  at 
their  own  expense,  one  end  of  their  ward 
as  a church;  and  I can  truly  say  that  some 
of  the  happiest  moments  of  my  life  have 
been  spent  in  ministering  to  those  poor  suf- 
ferers in  that  little  sanctuary.  No  service 


6o 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


could  be  more  solemnly  interesting  than  the 
administration  of  the  Lord’s  Supper  to  that 
little  band  of  maimed  believers.  Some  had 
no  hands,  others  no  feet,  several  were  blind  ; 
but  to  see  them  kneeling  upon  their  clean 
mats  around  the  table,  to  see  the  spirit  of 
devotion  which  actuated  them,  whilst  every 
now  and  then  a tear  of  grateful  love  fell 
from  their  eyes,  was  a sight  to  do  one  good. 
Many  a time  have  I returned  from  such  a 
service  blessing  God  that  he  ever  led  me  to 
encraore  in  so  hallowed  a work.  Before  I 

o o 

left  Calcutta  it  had  been  my  happiness  to 
have  baptized  upwrard  of  forty  of  these  poor 
people.  Brighter  specimens  of  Christian 
faith  and  love  and  devotion  I never  wit- 
nessed than  I have  seen  among  these 
forty.” 

One  case  mentioned  is  that  of  a woman 
of  high  caste  and  good  family.  She  had  been 
a devoted  Hindu,  and  for  many  years  led  the 
life  of  a pilgrim.  An  outcast,  under  the 
power  of  the  terrible  disease,  she  found  a 
home  in  the  leper  asylum  in  Calcutta,  and 
there  found  Jesus.  After  her  conversion 
she  learned  to  read,  and  her  Bible  became 


LEPERS  IN  INDIA. 


6l 


her  constant  companion.  Day  by  day  her 
face  shone  with  the  beauty  of  holiness  while 
her  body  was  literally  decaying,  but  the  dis- 
ease which  was  eating-  out  her  life  left  her 
face  untouched,  and  that  was  “bright  and 
comely”  to  the  end.  Though  a great  suf- 
ferer, no  murmuring  word  escaped  her  lips, 
and  she  passed  away  rejoicing  in  the  love 
and  faithfulness  of  that  Saviour  who  would 
present  her  faultless  before  the  presence  of 
his  glory  with  exceeding  joy. 

Mr.  Vaughan  tells  of  another  leper,  who 
after  his  conversion  became  a veritable  mis- 
sionary to  his  afflicted  companions.  Unable 
to  leave  his  bed,  his  couch  of  suffering  was 
both  “his  throne  and  his  pulpit,”  for  the 
whole  leper  community  gradually  learned 
to  look  up  to  him  as  their  leader  and  teach- 
er. The  Christian  members  of  the  flock 
gathered  about  him  morning  and  evening 
for  their  devotions,  and  listened  with  rever- 
ent attention  while  he  opened  to  them  the 
Scriptures.  And,  thus  glorifying  God  and 
proving  a blessing  to  all  about  him,  he  lay 
for  three  years  before  death  set  free  the  re- 
joicing soul  from  the  suffering  body. 


62 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


The  leper  asylum  in  Sabathu,  a town  in 
the  lower  Himalayas,  was  for  many  years  in 
the  care  of  the  late  Dr.  John  Newton  of  the 
American  Presbyterian  mission.  To  all 
who  sought  his  aid  the  faithful  missionary- 
physician  gave  not  only  his  ready  sympathy, 
but  all  the  help  in  his  power,  shrinking  from 
no  duty,  however  unpleasant  to  the  flesh, 
and  while  seeking  to  relieve  physical  suffer- 
ings labored  earnestly  to  lead  the  sufferers 
to  the  Saviour.  But  this  devoted  servant 
of  the  Lord — “fitted  for  his  post  both  by 
nature  and  erace” — has  been  called  to  his 
heavenly  home.  One  of  the  last  acts  of  his 
life  was  to  write  to  a friend  from  his  dying- 
bed,  pleading  for  the  poor  sufferers  for  whom 
he  had  so  long  and  so  lovingly  cared.  After 
the  death  of  Dr.  Newton,  Mrs.  Newton, 
while  she  remained  in  India,  carried  on  the 
work  as  far  as  possible  in  accordance  with 
Dr.  Newton’s  views. 

Among  those  cared  for  in  this  asylum 
have  been  some  most  interesting  cases. 
Mrs.  Newton  mentions  an  old  woman, 
Nanaki  by  name,  who  was  admitted  into  the 
asylum,  though  not  a leper.  A son  of  her 


LEPERS  IN  INDIA. 


63 

husband  by  another  wife  was  smitten  with 
the  plague  of  leprosy  ; and  when  he  turned  to 
the  leper  asylum  for  a home,  Nanaki  begged 
to  come  also  ; and,  as  she  was  old  and  infirm, 
her  request  was  granted.  When  she  had 
been  about  a year  in  the  asylum,  she  asked 
for  and  received  baptism,  and  from  that  time 
lived  a beautiful  and  consistent  life,  kind  and 
helpful  to  those  more  feeble  than  herself. 
She  was  especially  devoted  to  a very  old 
man  who  was  both  blind  and  deaf,  and  to  a 
young  man  so  crippled  by  disease  as  to  be 
unable  to  use  any  part  of  his  body  except 
his  hands  and  his  arms.  The  last  days  of 
Nanaki  were  very  happy,  her  faith  in  her 
Redeemer  undimmed  by  doubt  or  by  fear. 
She  said  to  Mrs.  Newton  a short  time  be- 
fore her  death, 

“ I am  going  now.” 

“ You  are  not  afraid  to  go  to  Jesus  ? You 
are  happy?”  Mrs.  Newton  asked,  bending 
over  Nanaki’s  cot. 

“No,  not  afraid — quite  happy,”  she  an- 
swered, with  a smile.  “Very  happy,”  she 
added  a few  moments  later,  the  smile  still 
on  her  face. 


64 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


The  poor  cripple  missed  her  sadly,  and 
the  blind  man  refused  food  from  any  other 
hand,  and  soon  followed  Nanaki  to  the 
grave. 

The  Saviour  when  he  was  upon  the  earth 
touched  the  leper,  and  beneath  the  touch 
of  that  almighty  hand  the  flesh  of  the  loath- 
some leper  “came  again  like  unto  the  flesh 
of  a little  child  ” and  he  was  clean.  The 
ascended  Saviour  has  the  same  heart  of 
compassion  as  when  he  walked  the  earth. 
We  know  that  he  looks  down  from  heaven 
with  infinite  pity  upon  the  lepers  to-day, 
just  as  he  used  to  look  upon  the  lepers  of 
Palestine.  He  is  glad  to  have  his  disciples 
treat  these  afflicted  ones  just  as  he  would 
do  if  he  were  here  again.  Surely  no  work 
can  be  more  Christlike  than  what  we  have 
just  been  witnessing  in  this  leper  asylum 
in  India.  These  poor  people  have  immor- 
tal souls  and  they  need  a Saviour.  The 
fact  that  they  are  outcast  from  men,  even 
from  their  own  homes,  makes  their  case  all 
the  more  needy,  and  renders  all  the  more 
Christlike  the  beautiful,  self-forgetful  efforts 
of  missionaries  in  their  behalf. 


LEPERS  IN  INDIA. 


65 


Is  it  not  a glorious  privilege,  then,  to 
point  these  afflicted  ones  for  whom  life  has 
lost  all  its  earthly  joy  to  that  fountain  which 
the  Saviour  by  his  death  has  opened  for 
sin  and  uncleanness,  and  in  which  they 
may  wash  and  be  clean  ? 


CHAPTER  V. 


INDIAN  POTTERS. 


HE  art  of  making-  vessels  of  baked  clay 


X is  a very  ancient  art,  and  frequent  al- 
lusion is  made  to  it  in  the  Bible.  The  proph- 
et Jeremiah  says,  “Then  I went  down  to 
the  potter’s  house,  and  behold  he  wrought 
a work  on  the  wheels.  And  the  vessel 
that  he  made  of  clay  was  marred  in  the 
hand  of  the  potter  ; so  he  made  it  again 
another  vessel,  as  it  seemed  good  to  the 
potter  to  make  it.”  Passing,  on  one  occa- 
sion, in  one  of  our  large  cities,  through  a 
narrow  street  occupied  almost  exclusively  by 
potters,  I saw  what  helped  me  to  understand 
not  only  this  passage,  but  much  more  that 
is  said  in  the  Bible  about  the  potter  and 
the  clay. 

Anxious  to  learn  in  what  manner  the 
vessels  in  daily  use  in  our  households  are 
made,  we  entered  one  of  the  houses  close 


66 


INDIAN  POTTERS. 


67 


by  the  roadside.  Here  the  potter  had  al- 
ready kneaded  the  clay,  and  his  wheel  was 
in  rapid  motion.  The  potter’s  wheel — 
doubtless  the  same  in  kind  as  that  men- 
tioned by  the  prophet  Jeremiah — is  the  in- 
strument in  use  by  the  Hindus  of  the  pres- 
ent day.  A strong  pivot  is  fixed  firmly  in 
the  ground,  and  upon  this  the  wheel  is  made 
to  revolve.  This  wheel  is  of  stone,  several 
inches  in  thickness  and  two  or  three  feet  in 
diameter.  The  potter,  wearing  no  clothing 
except  a cloth  about  the  loins,  sat  down 
upon  the  ground  beside  his  wheel,  in  the 
centre  of  which  had  already  been  placed 
the  mass  of  clay  to  be  moulded.  The  wheel 
was  set  in  motion  by  the  potter’s  hand,  as- 
sisted by  a small  stick,  and,  once  in  motion, 
it  continued  to  revolve  for  several  minutes. 
While  thus  revolving,  with  his  naked  hands 
the  potter  fashioned  vessel  after  vessel  with 
wonderful  rapidity,  only  pausing  occasionally 
to  put  his  wheel  into  swifter  motion.  Some 
of  the  vessels  were  very  light  and  thin,  mak- 
ing it  difficult  to  understand  how  they  re- 
tained their  shape  in  the  plastic  clay.  Now 
the  potter  made  without  pattern  or  mould, 


68 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


guided  only  by  his  own  unerring  taste, bottles 
for  water  with  swelling  bowls  and  long,  slen- 
der necks,  then  a vessel  with  wide  mouth 
and  ornamental  rim  ; now  a little  vessel  to 
be  used  as  a lamp,  then  a broad  plate  or 
platter.  “ As  it  seemed  good  to  the  potter,” 
out  of  the  plastic  clay  he  formed  vessel 
after  vessel  in  great  variety.  Some  of  these 
were  “marred”  in  his  hands,  but  no  loss 
was  involved,  for  of  the  same  clay  other 
vessels  were  fashioned. 

In  a shed  facing  the  open  court  where  the 
potter  sat  at  his  wheel  was  a heap  of  blue 
clay  which  had  been  collected  from  the  bot- 
toms of  tanks  in  and  about  the  city ; this 
was  used  for  the  finer  kinds  of  pottery. 
Near  this  heap  of  clay,  sitting  on  the  ground, 
was  a woman  withered  and  old,  her  head 
resting  upon  her  knees,  while  from  her  thin 
lips  moans  frequently  escaped. 

“ What  is  the  matter  ?”  we  asked,  touched 
by  her  evident  distress. 

“ My  husband  is  dead,”  she  answered,  in 
a piping  voice,  “and  only  this  boy  is  left,” 
pointing  with  one  bony  finger  to  the  young 
man  before  the  wheel,  “ to  earn  bread  for 


INDIAN  POTTERS.  69 

the  household.  He  is  but  a child,  and  is 
not  cunning  with  his  hands  to  make  all  sorts 
of  vessels,  like  his  father.  What  shall  we 
do?”  and  the  low  wailing  sound  continued. 

Entering  another  of  the  low  houses,  we 
found  the  father  busy  at  his  wheel  and  the 
women  of  the  household  employed  in 
kneading  clay  for  future  use.  A low  cot 
was  drawn  forward,  and  upon  this  we  were 
invited  to  sit  while  we  watched  the  potter 
at  his  work.  Here,  as  before,  we  were 
delighted  and  surprised  at  the  graceful 
shape  of  the  articles  fashioned  by  the 
hands  of  the  potter.  This  beauty  of  form 
is  seen  in  pottery  made  in  all  parts  of 
India,  though  fashioned  in  a manner  so 
primitive. 

The  vessels,  as  they  were  moulded,  were 
placed  upon  a slab  of  wood  or  stone  or 
upon  the  smooth  ground  in  the  sun  to 
harden.  The  furnace  in  which  they  were 
afterward  baked  was  simply  a slight  ex- 
cavation in  the  earth,  in  which  the  vessels 
were  placed,  layer  after  layer,  with  dry 
sticks,  straw,  or  any  other  fuel  at  hand, 
and  all  burned  together. 


7 o 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


While  making  a tour  in  the  district  our 
tents  were  on  one  occasion  pitched  in  the 
vicinity  of  a village  the  inhabitants  of 
which  were  chiefly  potters.  While  there 
encamped  I one  day  directed  my  steps 
toward  a group  of  women  engaged  in 
kneading  clay  for  the  skillful  hands  of  the 
potter.  The  women  smiled  a welcome  at 
my  approach,  but  did  not  pause  in  their 
work.  A woman  who  was  holdine  a child 
in  her  arms  brought  a low  stool  for  me, 
and  then  waited  for  me  to  speak. 

As  I questioned  the  women  concerning 
their  employment,  they  were  pleased  to 
odve  me  the  desired  information  about  the 

0 

mysteries  of  their  craft,  and  answered  as 
readily  when  questioned  about  their  home- 
life.  It  was  a story  of  hard  and  unremit- 
ting toil. 

“Have  you  a school  in  your  village?” 

1 asked. 

“No,  no!”  was  answered.  “How  can 
we  learn?  We  have  no  leisure  for  that, 
but  must  toil  from  morning  until  evening 
for  our  bread.” 

“ We  know  only  our  work,”  answered 


INDIAN  POTTERS. 


71 


one  woman,  wearily,  as  she  patiently  knead- 
ed the  clay. 

Sitting  in  the  midst  of  the  group  and 
looking  across  the  road,  where,  aided  by 
rapidly-revolving  wheels,  two  or  three 
potters  were  fashioning  vessels  diverse  in 
form,  of  the  same  lump  making  one  vessel 
unto  honor  and  another  unto  dishonor,  the 
words  of  the  prophet  Jeremiah  came  to  my 
mind  : “ Behold  as  the  clay  is  in  the  potter’s 
hand,  so  are  ye  in  mine  hand,  O house 
of  Israel.”  Unpromising  soil  seemed  the 
hearts  of  these  poor  ignorant  women  into 
which  to  drop  seeds  of  divine  truth,  but 
such  hearts  the  Master  could,  we  know, 
make  fit  to  receive  impressions  for  good 
even  as  the  plastic  clay  took  shape  in  the 
hands  of  the  potter.  Thus  the  words  of 
the  ancient  prophet  came  with  new  inspira- 
tion to  our  hearts  as  we  thought  of  our 
work.  Yes,  the  Master  can  take  even  this 
unpromising  clay,  and  from  it  make  vessels 
unto  high  honor  for  himself. 

The  pottery  made  in  India  is  very  brittle. 
About  the  house  of  the  potter  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  wells  where  the  women  of  a 


72 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


village  go  out  in  the  morning  and  evening 
to  draw  water,  carrying  upon  their  heads 
or  shoulders  the  vessels  they  have  brought 
to  be  filled,  and  also  around  ordinary 
dwellings,  may  always  be  found  fragments 
of  broken  pottery.  In  an  Eastern  house, 
where  nothinsf  is  suffered  to  gfo  to  waste, 
these  “shreds”  of  pottery  are  used  for 
various  household  purposes.  The  Lord 
by  his  prophet  Isaiah  describes  under  the 
figure  of  a potter’s  vessel  shivered  to  at- 
oms the  punishment  that  should  be  visited 
upon  his  rebellious  children  : “ Therefore 
this  iniquity  shall  be  to  you  as  a breach 
ready  to  fall,  swelling  out  in  a high  wall, 
whose  breaking  cometh  suddenly  at  an 
instant.  And  he  shall  break  it  as  the 
breaking  of  the  potter’s  vessel  that  is 
broken  in  pieces ; he  shall  not  spare : so 
that  there  shall  not  be  found  in  the  burst- 
ing of  it  a shred  to  take  fire  from  the  hearth, 
or  to  take  water  withal  out  of  the  pit.” 
Thus  we  are  taught  something  of  the 
mighty  power  of  the  Lord,  before  whom 
the  strongest  of  earth  are  as  easily  broken 
to  pieces  as  brittle  pottery. 


INDIAN  POTTERS. 


73 


The  things  which  we  see  about  us  daily 
as  we  mingle  with  the  people  of  this  land, 
whose  customs  and  habits,  dress,  house- 
hold furniture  and  implements  of  husbandry, 
have  remained  unchanged  from  century  to 
century,  help  us  to  appreciate  and  to  see 
in  many  of  the  allusions  of  Scripture  a 
force  and  a beauty  hitherto  but  imperfectly 
understood. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

SOME  ANIMALS  IN  INDIA. 

THE  ELEPHANT. 

I REMEMBER,  upon  our  arrival  in  India, 
feeling  somewhat  disappointed  that  no 
elephants  were  to  be  seen.  We  made  the 
long  railway-journey  from  Bombay  to  one 
of  the  cities  of  the  Panjab  without  seeing 
a single  elephant.  The  animal,  however, 
is  common  in  India,  and  is  found  in  a wild 
state  in  many  parts  of  the  country.  It  is 
one  of  the  most  sagacious  of  creatures, 
and  marvelous  are  the  stories  told  of  ele- 
phant-life in  India,  Burmah  and  Ceylon. 
An  English  gentleman  who  spent  eight 
years  in  Cevlon  tells  us  in  an  interesting 
volume  describing-  life  in  that  beautiful 
island  that  he  has  seen  an  elephant  doing 
the  work  of  three  teams  in  a field.  Fas- 
tened to  the  elephant  was  a pair  of  heavy 

74 


SOME  ANIMALS  IN  INDIA.  75 

harrows,  and  attached  to  these  were  a pair 
of  lighter  harrows,  and  behind  these  was  a 
roller.  The  same  writer  tells  us  of  another 
elephant,  a large  and  very  fine  animal,  em- 
ployed by  her  owner  in  building  a dam  across 
a stream.  The  timbers  for  this  dam  were 
about  fifteen  feet  lon^  and  from  fourteen  to 
eighteen  inches  in  diameter.  These  the 
elephant  carried  in  her  mouth,  shifting 
her  hold  aloncr  the  lo^  before  she  raised  it 
until  she  obtained  the  exact  balance,  steady- 
ing it  with  her  trunk.  In  this  way  she  car- 
ried all  the  logs  to  the  spot  and  laid  them 
across  the  stream  in  parallel  lines.  She 
then  arranged  two  logs,  about  eighteen 
feet  long  and  two  feet  in  diameter,  close 
to  the  edge,  on  the  bank  of  the  stream, 
and  when  the  work  was  completed  showed 
evident  pleasure  at  the  approval  of  her 
keeper. 

It  is  said  that  in  ascending  or  descending 
the  precipitous  sides  of  mountains  an  ele- 
phant always  describes  a zigzag,  and  thus 
lessens  the  abruptness  of  the  inclination. 
When  traversing  dense  jungles,  the  sensi- 
tive trunk  of  the  elephant  feels  the  way ; 


76  BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 

and  when  precipices  are  feared,  the  trunk 
lowered  on  the  ground  keeps  the  animal 
advised  of  danger. 

The  Rev.  Francois  Lacroix,  one  of  the 
famous  missionaries  of  India,  and  father 
of  the  late  Mrs.  Mullens  of  Calcutta,  used 
to  tell  his  children  the  following  story, 
which  shortly  after  the  incident  took  place 
he  had  heard  from  a gentleman  who  wit- 
nessed the  occurrence: 

“ At  Ghyretty,  the  country-house  of  the 
governor  of  the  French  settlement  of 
Chandernagore,  there  was  a little  elephant 
exceedingly  tame  and  treated  as  a pet. 
He  was  allowed  to  roam  all  over  the  house, 
and  was  accustomed  to  come  into  the 
dining-room  after  dinner  to  seek  contribu- 
tions  from  guests.  One  day,  when  a large 
party  were  seated  at  dessert,  the  elephant 
came  round,  and,  putting  his  little  trunk 
between  the  guests,  asked  from  them  gifts 
of  fruit.  One  gentleman  refused  to  give 
anything,  and,  as  the  animal  would  not 
leave  him,  at  length,  greatly  annoyed,  he 
took  his  fork  and  gave  the  elephant  a 
smart  stab  in  the  trunk  with  the  prongs. 


SOME  ANIMALS  IN  INDIA.  77 

The  elephant  went  off  and  finished  his 
rounds,  but,  shortly  after,  he  went  into  the 
garden,  tore  off  the  bough  of  a tree  which 
was  swarming  with  black  ants,  returned  to 
the  room  and  shook  the  bough  over  the 
gentleman’s  head.  In  a moment  he  was 
covered  with  the  ants,  which  bite  severely. 
They  filled  his  hair,  crept  down  his  neck, 
crawled  up  his  sleeves.  He  brushed  some 
off,  stamped,  swore  and  did  his  best  to  get 
rid  of  the  plague,  but  he  could  not  manage 
it,  and  was  obliged  to  undress  and  get  into 
a bath  to  free  himself  from  his  tormentors, 
while  the  remainder  of  the  guests  laughed 
at  the  occurrence  and  petted  the  elephant 
more  fondly  than  before.” 

Many  years  ago  the  town  of  Tinnevelly, 
in  Southern  India,  was  visited  by  a terrible 
hurricane  which  caused  the  loss  of  many 
lives  and  threw  down  more  than  a hundred 
thousand  trees.  Among  the  trees  blown 
down  in  the  garden  of  one  of  the  mission- 
aries  of  Tinnevelly  was  a large  mango  tree 
which  yielded  most  delicious  fruit.  Anxious, 
if  possible,  to  preserve  his  favorite  tree,  the 
owner,  with  the  combined  efforts  of  about 


78 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


fifty  men,  tried  to  raise  it  to  an  upright  posi- 
tion, but  in  vain.  Belonging  to  one  of  the 
temples  of  Tinnevelly  was  a very  large  and 
powerful  elephant.  This  animal  the  mis- 
sionary borrowed,  and  what  the  combined 
efforts  of  fifty  men  had  failed  to  accomplish 
the  elephant  succeeded  in  doing,  and  for 
many  years  afterward  the  tree  thus  lifted  to 
its  place  flourished  and  yielded  fruit  as  be- 
fore. 

Mrs.  Mault,  the  wife  of  a devoted  mis- 
sionary who  labored  for  more  than  a third 
of  a century  in  Nagercoil,  a town  twelve 
miles  from  Cape  Comorin,  tells  the  follow- 
ing story  of  her  own  experience  : The  de- 
zoau,  or  prime  minister,  of  the  rajah  of 
Travancore  sent  an  elephant  with  his  keep- 
er to  Nagercoil  to  pile  timber,  and  by  the 
hand  of  the  keeper  sent  to  Mrs.  Mault  a 
letter  asking  her  to  see  the  elephant  fed 
every  day,  as  he  could  not  depend  upon  the 
honesty  of  the  keeper.  The  elephant  was 
accordingly  brought  daily  before  the  raised 
veranda  of  the  house,  and  the  man,  stand- 
ing before  him,  showed  the  rice  allowed  for 
his  meal.  One  afternoon  Mrs.  Mault  com- 


SOME  ANIMALS  IN  INDIA.  7 9 

plained  that  the  quantity  was  less  than  usual, 
and  charged  the  keeper  with  filching  it. 
The  man,  looking  up,  earnestly  protested 
against  the  accusation,  and,  not  being  be- 
lieved, said,  “What,  madam!  Would  I rob 
my  own  dear  child  ?”  at  the  same  time  rais- 
ing his  hands,  as  natives  do,  to  give  energy 
to  his  protestations.  At  this  moment  the 
elephant  quietly  put  his  trunk  round  the 
man’s  waist,  untied  the  bulky  cloth  which  the 
Hindus  wear  as  a kind  of  girdle,  and  let  out 
upon  the  ground  before  Mrs.  Mault  the  rice 
which  his  paternal  keeper  had  stolen  from 
his  meal. 

There  is  in  Nagercoil  a very  large  church 
furnishing  accommodation  for  an  audience 
of  two  thousand  persons.  The  stones  for  this 
spacious  edifice  were  brought  from  the 
neighboring  mountains,  and  the  timbers 
from  the  adjacent  forests.  The  mission- 
aries engaged  in  the  superintendence  of  the 
work  found  difficulty  in  procuring  means  for 
the  conveyance  of  the  necessary  materials. 
While  this  problem  was  waiting  for  solution, 
“I  saw,”  said  the  Rev.  Richard  Knill,  “a 
huge  elephant  feeding  near  a temple  with 


8o 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


a keeper  by  his  side.  I said  to  the  man, 
‘ Whose  elephant  is  this  ?’  The  reply  was, 
‘ He  belongs  to  the  goddess  who  lives  in 
the  temple.’ — ‘ What  does  the  goddess  do 
with  an  elephant.’ — ‘ She  rides  upon  him 
twice  a year  at  the  processions,’  answered 
the  keeper.  I thought  if  we  could  get  this 
elephant  to  draw  the  material  for  our  chap- 
el the  animal  would  serve  a new  master  and 
be  employed  in  a better  work  than  carrying 
an  idol.  I mentioned  it  to  Mr.  Meade,  and 
through  the  resident  the  matter  was  laid 
before  the  queen.  Her  Majesty  said,  ‘They 
may  have  the  elephant,  but  they  must  feed 
the  animal  and  pay  the  keeper.’  We  read- 
ily consented,  and  had  the  gratification  of 
seeing  the  monster  daily  engaged  in  draw- 
ing stones  and  timber  for  the  house  of  the 
Lord.”  In  this  beautiful  sanctuary,  built  in 
the  year  1 8 1 8,  we  saw  assembled,  in  the 
summer  of  1878,  one  of  the  most  interest- 
ing Christian  congregations  that  we  have 
ever  had  the  good-fortune  to  witness 
brought  together  in  any  land. 

The  trunk  of  the  elephant  is  furnished  at 
the  end  with  a finger-like  appendage  ; with 


SOME  ANIMALS  IN  INDIA. 


8l 


this  the  animal  can  take  up  very  small 
objects. 

One  afternoon  a wealthy  native  came  to 
call  upon  us ; he  rode  to  the  house  on  an 
elephant.  While  he  was  paying  the  visit 
the  elephant  with  his  keeper  roamed  about 
the  yard,  the  elephant  improving  the  time 
by  gathering  some  choice  morsels  from  the 
lawn.  These,  when  gathered,  the  sagacious 
animal  held  firmly  in  the  finger  at  the  end 
of  his  trunk  ; then,  raising  one  of  his  huge 
feet,  he  brushed  the  dainty  morsel  free  from 
dust  before  carrying  it  to  his  mouth.  “ By 
his  trunk  an  elephant  can  raise  a piece  of 
artillery  or  pick  up  a pin,  kill  a man  or  brush 
off  a fly,  carry  food  to  the  mouth  or  pump 
up  water,  which  he  carries  to  his  mouth  or 
showers  over  his  body.” 

Once,  when  on  a visit  to  a friend,  we  were 
taken  to  spend  the  day  at  a deserted  city 
where  there  were  some  fine  old  palaces, 
and  for  part  of  our  journey  elephants  were 
provided.  When  we  reached  our  destina- 
tion the  elephants  were  turned  into  a large 
yard  surrounded  with  a high  wall.  Mos- 
quitoes were  very  numerous,  and  caused 


82 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


the  elephants  much  annoyance,  but  they 
soon  managed  to  rid  themselves  of  their 
tormentors.  One  of  the  elephants  filled  his 
trunk  with  fine  dust,  and  with  this  he  pow- 


ROYAL  ELEPHANT  AND  TRAPPINGS. 


dered  his  body,  repeating-  the  process  until 
he  was  covered  with  a thick  coat  of  dust. 
The  other  elephants  followed  his  example. 

Elephants  are  much  used  in  India  in  the 
processions  of  native  princes,  and  on  all 


SOME  ANIMALS  IN  INDIA.  83 

occasions  when  it  is  deemed  desirable  to 
make  a show  of  wealth  or  of  state.  In 
some  parts  of  India,  on  festive  occasions, 
the  head,  ears  and  trunk  of  the  elephant 
are  elaborately  painted. 

The  elephant  eats  hay,  vegetables  and 
fruit  and  takes  kindly  to  the  most  dainty 
dishes.  The  emperor  Akbar  kept  a great 
number  of  elephants,  and  these  royal  beasts 
had  each  a daily  allowance  of  two  hundred 
pounds  of  solid  food,  besides  a dessert  of 
rice,  sugar,  milk,  and,  in  their  season,  three 
hundred  sugar-canes.  When  a rich  native 
had  a quarrel  with  one  whom  he  did  not 
wish  openly  to  oppose,  but  upon  whom  he 
desired  to  bring  disaster,  he  would  some- 
times, under  pretence  of  great  friendship, 
make  him  a present  of  an  elephant.  The 
poor  man  dared  not  refuse  the  proffered 
gift,  nor  dared  he  dispose  of  it  after  it  came 
into  his  possession,  and  to  feed  his  costly 
present  soon  impoverished  him. 

Elephants  are  fond  of  thickly-wooded 
mountain-glens  and  like  to  be  in  the  vicinity 
of  rivers  or  pools,  as  they  delight  in  wal- 
lowing in  mud  and  water.  They  are 


84 


BITS  ABOUT  IXDIA. 


capital  swimmers,  being  able  to  make  their 
way  across  the  broadest  rivers,  floating 
with  the  head  and  the  back  below  the 
water  and  the  trunk  raised  above  it. 

THE  CAMEL. 

The  Arabs  call  the  camel  “Job’s  beast,” 
and  declare  that  it  is  “a  monument  of 
God’s  mercy.”  “Ships  of  the  desert” 
camels  are  also  called,  and  the  name  is  a 
very  appropriate  one,  for  without  these 
useful  animals  the  desert  would  be  impassa- 
ble to  man.  No  other  creature  can  endure 
such  severe  and  long-continued  hardships, 
such  rough  usage  and  such  scanty  fare. 
Camels  have  long,  ungainly-looking  legs ; 
the  soles  of  their  larg-e  feet  are  furnished 
with  pads  or  cushions  which  prevent  them 
from  sinking  into  the  sand.  The  camel  is 
very  surefooted,  and  because  of  his  cush- 
ioned feet  moves  along  very  quietly.  The 
head  of  the  camel  is  long,  the  ears  are 
small  and  the  eyes  are  prominent,  so 
that  he  can  distinguish  objects  at  a great 
distance.  His  neck  is  long-,  slender  and 
flexible,  and  his  sense  of  smell  very  acute. 


THE  SHIP  OF  THE  DESERT. 


86 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


When  traveling  with  a caravan  and  appar- 
ently exhausted  by  long  marching  and 
scanty  fare,  it  is  said  that  he  will  scent 
water  from  a great  distance,  and,  breaking 
away,  will  run  with  unerring  instinct  to  a 
spring  which  has  escaped  the  notice  of  all 
other  animals. 

The  stomach  of  the  camel  is  so  construct- 
ed that  he  can  carry  a supply  of  water 
sufficient  for  many  days.  The  stomach  is 
like  “a  chain  of  water-tanks  or  a long-  bag 
divided  into  compartments,”  and  on  ex- 
tended journeys  across  the  desert  the  camel 
has  the  power  of  expanding  these  compart- 
ments so  as  to  make  them  capable  of  hold- 
ing a large  amount  of  water. 

The  camel  is  a very  temperate  animal. 
The  patient  creature  is  quite  content  if  he 
receives  once  in  twenty-four  hours  a pound 
of  dates,  beans  or  barley,  while  he  regards 
as  a luxury  a few  thistles  or  a mouthful  of 
some  thorny  plant.  There  are  found  in 
this  country  trees  covered  with  thorns  soft 
and  juicy,  and  I have  seen  camels  snap  at 
these  in  passing.  At  evening-time  camels 
often  pass  our  door  laden  with  fresh  boughs, 


SOME  ANIMALS  IN  INDIA. 


8 7 


the  leaves  of  which  furnish  their  evening 
meal. 

The  camel  not  only  carries  a supply  of 


A LOADED  CAMEL. 


water,  but  he  carries  a supply  of  food  as 
well ; upon  this,  however,  he  does  not  draw 
as  long  as  supplies  are  forthcoming  from 


88 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


other  sources.  The  hump  of  the  camel  is 
his  food-pouch ; and  when  he  is  healthy 
and  abundantly  fed  it  is  well  stored  with 
fat.  Without  this  reserve  supply  he  could 
not  continue  his  long  and  fatiguing  marches 
when  other  supplies  are  cut  off.  This  gives 
to  the  long-suffering  animal  nourishment 
without  food.  When  the  fat  is  exhausted, 
the  skin  falls  to  one  side  like  an  empty 
bag. 

The  nostrils  of  a camel  are  so  formed 
that  they  can  be  closed  at  will  to  exclude 
the  drifting  sand  of  the  desert.  The  camel 
is  an  animal  of  great  strength,  a full-grown, 
healthy  one  carrying  with  apparent  ease 
five  or  six  hundred  pounds.  These  “ships 
of  the  desert”  are  often  the  only  means 
of  exchanging  the  products  of  different 
parts  of  the  country,  and,  as  they  carry 
such  heavy  burdens  and  are  contented 
with  scanty  fare,  they  furnish  a very  cheap 
means  of  transport.  In  one  part  of  India 
extensive  salt  lakes  exist,  and  from  the 
waters  of  these  lakes  large  quantities  of 
salt  are  manufactured.  Before  railroads 
had  penetrated  to  this  part  of  the  country 


SOME  ANIMALS  IN  INDIA.  89 

camels  were  used  to  carry  away  the  salt, 
bringing  back  sugar  in  exchange. 

Though  usually  so  patient,  the  camel  is 
sometimes  obstinate,  and  even  savage. 
When  loaded  unequally  or  too  heavily,  he 
utters  a shrill  cry.  On  one  occasion,  when 
on  a journey,  quite  near  the  travelers’ 
bungalow  where  we  took  shelter  for  the 
night  were  a great  number  of  camels,  and 

o o 

often  through  the  night  we  heard  the 
camels’  harsh,  shrill  cries,  their  protest 
against  the  heavy  burdens  which  were 
being  laid  upon  them.  Camels  are  fre- 
quently used  to  carry  tents,  and  I have 
seen  a tent  and  all  its  furniture  upon  the 
back  of  a camel — a curious  load.  These 
useful  animals  are  also  made  to  draw  ve- 
hicles, but,  as  they  travel  slowly — less  than 
three  miles  an  hour — are  not  much  used 
by  Europeans  for  this  purpose.  The  heavier 
and  tougher  animals  are  employed  in  carry- 
ing burdens;  the  lighter  and  more  agile 
ones  are  trained  for  the  saddle.  Every 
day  we  see  camels  pass  our  bungalow, 
their  long,  lank  bodies  almost  concealed 
from  view  by  a gay  saddle-cloth,  while  their 


90 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


riders  are  gorgeous  in  scarlet  turban, 
orange  trousers  and  blue  tunic. 

Often  we  see  strings  of  camels.  In  the 
nostril  of  each  camel  is  a ring ; through 
this  ring  a rope  is  passed,  and  the  opposite 
end  of  the  rope  is  tied  to  the  camel  in  front. 
In  this  way  a great  number  of  animals 
are  kept  together,  and  they  move  along 
with  almost  noiseless  tread. 

The  baby-camels  are  as  dull  and  awkward 
as  their  elders,  and  seem  as  subdued,  as  if 
with  their  great  far-seeing  eyes  they  had 
caught  glimpses  of  the  deserts  they  must 
cross,  and  had  already  felt  the  weight  of 
the  burdens  they  must  carry. 

This  animal,  so  useful  in  life,  is  useful 
also  after  he  is  dead.  Out  of  his  hair,  which 
is  of  a pale- brown  color,  the  Arab  makes 
carpets,  tent-cloths,  sacks  for  grain  and 
garments  for  himself.  Some  of  the  cloth 
made  of  camel’s  hair  is  soft  and  fine,  but 
it  is  usually  coarse  and  rough.  From  the 
hair  of  the  camel  brushes  are  also  made 
for  the  painter.  Of  his  hide  belts,  sandals, 
ropes,  thongs  and  large  water-bottles  are 
manufactured. 


SOME  ANIMALS  IN  INDIA. 


91 


THE  TIGER. 

In  no  other  country  are  tigers  so  numer- 
ous, so  large  and  so  bloodthirsty  as  in  India 
and  the  adjacent  islands.  The  average 
height  of  this  beast  is  from  three  to  four 

o 

feet  and  his  average  length  from  six  to 
nine  feet,  though  tigers  are  sometimes  found 
fifteen  feet  in  length  from  head  to  tip  of  tail. 
The  tiger  is  a magnificent-looking  animal, 
and  so  strong  and  fierce  that  the  elephant 
alone  is  able  to  withstand  him;  but,  though 
relentless  when  he  is  attacked,  he  is  never- 
theless a cowardly  animal  and  retreats  on 
the  approach  of  a foe  unless  wounded  or 
provoked.  He  is  found  both  in  the  moun- 
tains and  in  the  plains  of  India.  When  the 
hot  season  approaches  he  seeks  the  neigh- 
borhood of  streams,  where  he  can  be  con- 
cealed in  thickets  of  long  grass  or  brush- 
wood. 

An  Indian  officer,  learning  on  one  occa- 
sion that  a path  to  a spring  had  been  mo- 
nopolized by  tigers,  resolved  upon  their 
destruction.  He  therefore  caused  a sup- 
port to  be  placed  in  the  branches  of  a tree 


92 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


that  hung  just  above  the  path,  and,  taking 
his  station  there,  with  his  gun  succeeded  in 
killin o-  several  of  the  savage  creatures. 

A death  from  an  encounter  with  a tmer 

o 

has  been  reported  from  the  town  ofjamalpore. 
The  scarcity  of  water  in  the  jungle  at  the 
foot  of  the  hills  had  driven  a number  of 
tigers  into  the  plains,  and  several  of  these 
animals  had  been  seen  prowling  about  near 
the  large  railway-shops  of  the  town.  A 
woodcutter  was  carried  away  in  open  day- 
light, and  several  other  persons  were 
mauled.  A fitter  in  one  of  the  shops  sat 
up  near  his  bungalow  to  watch  for  a tiger 
which  had  been  several  times  seen  ; for  two 
nights  he  watched  in  vain,  but  the  third 
night  he  shot  at  and  wounded  the  animal. 
The  tiger,  it  appeared,  charged  the  man,  who 
took  refuge  in  his  bungalow,  whence  he  again 
fired,  and  again  he  wounded  the  animal. 
What  then  transpired  is  not  certainly 
known,  but  the  tiger  and  the  man  were 
found  lying  dead  together.  It  is  supposed 
that  the  man,  thinking  the  tmer  dead  after 
his  second  shot,  approached  it  incautiously, 
was  attacked  and  killed. 


94 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


In  one  of  the  beautiful  valleys  of  this 
country,  two  thousand  feet  above  the  sea, 
tigers  as  well  as  wild  elephants  abound. 
Over  the  mountain-pass  which  leads  to  this 
valley  a road  has  been  made.  There  are 
a few  dwellings  along  the  route,  but  this  low 
mountain-range  is  for  the  most  part  the 
habitat  of  wild  beasts,  and  tigers  some- 
times come  down  to  the  streams  by  the 
roadside  to  drink.  In  passing  over  this 
mountain-range  after  nightfall  the  natives 
of  the  country  always  carry  torches. 

The  roar  of  the  tiger  is  terrific.  It  is  said 
that  on  the  approach  of  a tiger,  monkeys 
betake  themselves  for  safety  to  the  nearest 
tree.  They  are  then  out  of  the  reach  of  the 
tiger,  but  not  beyond  his  influence,  for  the 
monster,  as  if  understanding  his  power,  im- 
mediately begins  to  roar  with  all  the  strength 
of  his  lungs,  and  at  the  awful  sound  the  lit- 
tie  creatures  are  seized  with  trembling,  un- 
til,  losing  their  hold,  they  tumble  from  their 
perches  upon  the  ground,  and  are  quickly 
snapped  up  by  the  expectant  animal. 

A man-eating  tiger  is  the  scourge  of  a 
neighborhood,  and  through  his  depredations 


SOME  ANIMALS  IN  INDIA.  95 

whole  villages  are  sometimes  deserted,  the 
inhabitants  fleeing  in  dread  for  their  lives. 
The  tiger  throws  himself  upon  his  victim 
with  a bound,  springing  a distance  of  fif- 
teen or  twenty  feet. 

That  a creature  so  savage  as  to  be  alike 
a terror  to  man  and  beast  should  be  hunted 
is  but  natural.  Tiger-hunting-  in  India  is  a 
favorite  and  most  exciting  diversion ; in  this 
sport  elephants  in  great  numbers  are  often 
employed.  On  entering  a jungle  the  pres- 
ence of  a tiger  is  soon  made  known  by  the 
conduct  of  the  elephants,  who  are  able  to 
scent  the  enemy  from  a considerable  dis- 
tance, and  who  give  expression  to  their  dis- 
pleasure by  a peculiar  sound  called  “trum- 
peting.” A tiger,  when  made  aware  of  the 
presence  of  a foe,  will  often  lie  quite  still, 
hidden  by  the  long  grass,  and  then  spring 
with  a deafening  roar  upon  his  pursuers. 
So  terrible  is  this  sound  that  the  elephants 
will  sometimes  retreat,  but  they  speedily  re- 
cover their  coolness  and  courage  and  return 
to  the  attack.  The  tiger  will  sometimes 
spring  upon  the  elephant,  and  the  huge 
creature,  shaking  himself  free  from  his  ene- 


96 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


my,  rushes  upon  him,  and  not  infrequently 
fastens  him  to  the  ground  with  his  tusks. 

THE  LEOPARD. 

In  India  there  are  several  species  of  the 
leopard.  One  is  in  color  a pale  yellow,  and 
is  covered  with  clusters  of  small  black  spots; 
another  species  is  a yellowish  brown  in  color 
and  without  spots ; still  another  is  a dull 
black;  and  a fourth  is  a light  gray,  and  is 
called  the  snowdeopard,  as  it  is  found  only 
in  very  high  altitudes  and  in  the  snowy  re- 
gion. Cat  like,  the  leopard  springs  upon 
its  prey  with  a quick  and  noiseless  bound. 
It  will  attack  and  destroy  dogs,  sheep  and 
goats,  monkeys,  pea-fowls,  and  occasionally 
cattle  and  ponies.  Children  are  sometimes 
carried  off  by  leopards  ; and  when  embold- 
ened by  hunger,  they  will  even  attack  men. 

A gentleman  was  riding  over  one  of  the 
mountain -paths  in  the  Himalayas  one  bright 
moonlight  evening,  when,  as  he  turned  a 
corner,  he  saw  a huge  leopard  about  to 
spring  upon  him.  Raising  himself  in  his 
saddle,  he  shouted  with  all  his  might,  and 
the  leopard,  affrighted,  leaped  over  a bank 


SOME  ANIMALS  IN  INDIA. 


97 


and  disappeared.  While  watching  their 
grain  at  night  people  are  sometimes  at- 
tacked by  leopards.  A lady  spending  a 


A LEOPARD. 


season  in  the  mountains  was  on  her  way  to 
the  house  of  a friend  early  one  evening, 
accompanied  by  a favorite  dog,  when  a 
leopard  sprang  across  the  path,  snapped  up 
the  dog  and  was  off  in  a twinkling. 

A species  of  leopard  very  small  and  cat- 
like is  called  the  hunting-leopard,  because 
he  can  be  trained  for  the  chase.  The  leop- 
ard, when  trained,  is  kept  chained  to  a low 


98 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


cot,  and  on  this  cot  he  is  carried,  chained 
and  hooded,  to  the  held.  When  the  hunter 
comes  within  view  of  a herd  of  antelopes, 
the  leopard  is  unchained  and  the  hood  is  re- 
moved. As  soon  as  the  leopard  catches 
sight  of  the  prey  he  moves  cautiously  forward 
until  he  has  approached  near  enough  to 
spring,  when  he  makes  hve  or  six  bounds 
and  leaps  upon  his  unsuspecting  victim, 
strangles  him  and  drinks  his  blood.  The 
hunter  then  approaches,  and,  securing  a 
ladleful  of  blood,  with  this  entices  the  leop- 
ard away  from  his  prey,  when  he  is  again 
hooded  and  chained  to  his  cot. 

While  visiting  a friend  residing  in  a state 
under  the  rule  of  a native  prince  we  saw 
a number  of  these  hunting-leopards,  each 
chained  to  a little  cot.  Releasing  one  of 
the  number,  the  keeper  held  high  above  his 
head  a ladle  which  contained  a small  piece 
of  meat.  The  leopard  poised  himself  a 
moment,  then  sprang  lightly  and  noiselessly 
into  the  air  to  secure  the  tempting  morsel. 
This  he  did  repeatedly,  never  missing  his 
aim  and  always  springing  with  the  same 
graceful,  swift  and  airy  motion. 


SOME  ANIMALS  IN  INDIA. 


99 


THE  JACKAL. 

Of  the  jackal  little  can  be  said  to  his 
credit.  He  has  no  beauty  to  recommend 
him,  and  except  in  his  capacity  of  scaven- 
ger he  seems  a bane  rather  than  a blessing. 

o o 

The  jackal  has  the  head  of  a wolf,  a pointed 
nose  and  a tail  like  that  of  a fox.  Jackals 
abound  in  Asia,  and,  as  they  move  in  packs 
and  are  fond  of  the  darkness,  they  make 
night  hideous  with  their  cry,  which  is  the 
most  dismal  that  can  be  imagined— a sound 
between  a wail  and  a bark.  The  first  shriek 
is  usually  a signal  for  a general  chorus.  The 
first  note  is  sometimes  heard  in  the  distance 
while  the  answering  yell  bursts  forth  from 
several  points  at  once.  In  the  wildest 
storms  this  dismal  sound  is  sometimes  to  be 
heard  above  the  uproar  caused  by  the  howl- 
ing of  the  wind. 

The  jackal  burrows  in  the  ground  or  finds 
a home  in  the  vicinity  of  some  old  ruin, 
and  comes  forth  at  night  in  quest  of  food. 
He  is  not  dainty  in  his  choice,  and,  though 
preferring  flesh,  he  eats  wild  fruits,  is  fond 
of  grapes  and  relishes  the  coffee-bean,  re- 


TOO 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


morselessly  destroying  what  has  cost  much 
care  and  labor. 

Jackals  prowl  around  villages  and  are 
bold  and  thievish.  They  visit  poultry-yards 
and  commit  great  depredations  among  the 
feathered  inhabitants.  Lizards  are  greedily 
snapped  up  by  these  voracious  animals  ; the 
timid  hare  does  not  escape  them,  and  a pack 
headed  by  a bold  leader  will  sometimes  hunt 
down  a deer.  When  a jackal  has  secured 
his  prey,  he  hides  it  in  the  nearest  jungle, 
and  then  comes  forth  to  see  if  anything 
more  powerful  than  himself  is  in  sight. 
Finding  the  coast  clear,  he  returns  to  the 
booty,  bringing  with  him  his  companions, 
and  carries  away  the  prize  to  a place  of  safe- 
ty, to  be  enjoyed  at  leisure.  If  fresh  game 
cannot  be  secured,  jackals  feast  upon  carrion- 
flesh,  and  will  not  devour  anything  that  has 
not  once  possessed  animal  life.  They  fol- 
low caravans,  melas  and  armies  and  devour 
the  dead,  even  scratching  the  earth  from 
shallow  graves.  They  will  approach  so 
near  human  habitations  that  the  native  in- 
fant children — who  usually  sleep  in  the  open 
air  during  the  hot  season — have  been  car- 


102 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


ried  oft  by  them  from  the  arms  of  their 
mothers.  Sick  people  who  lie  helpless  and 
friendless  in  the  streets  or  who  have  been 
left  on  the  banks  of  the  Ganges  to  die  are 

o 

sometimes  devoured  by  these  animals. 

It  is  supposed  that  in  many  passages  in 
the  Bible  where  foxes  are  mentioned  the 
jackal  is  the  animal  to  which  the  allusion 
is  made. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


SOME  INDIAN  PESTS. 

THE  CROW. 

HEN  we  landed  in  India  we  were 


welcomed  by  the  cawing  of  a crow, 


and  through  the  years  that  have  followed 
we  have  never  lost  sight  of  this  impudent 
and  audacious  bird.  Its  shrill  cry  is  often 
the  last  sound  we  hear  at  night  and  the  first 
in  the  morning. 

The  neck  and  a part  of  the  wings  of  the 
crow  are  gray ; the  rest  of  the  body  is  a 
bluish  black  and  very  glossy.  It  advances 
on  the  ground  by  hopping,  and  turns  its 
head  from  side  to  side  in  a very  coquettish 
manner. 

The  crow  is  a very  wise  bird,  very  per- 
severing, and  knows  what  to  do  in  an  emer- 
gency. Although  so  much  at  home  under 
the  burning  sun  of  the  tropics,  it  is  said  to 
be  equally  so  in  the  intense  cold  of  the 


103 


104 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


Arctic  regions.  It  builds  its  nest  in  tall  trees, 
but  seems  too  much  occupied  in  pilfering 
and  in  mischief  to  rear  a family.  Some 
fine  old  trees  in  our  compound  have  given  a 
home  at  night  to  manv  generations  of  crows. 
A beautiful  tamarind  tree  with  its  wide- 
spreading  leafy  branches  shelters  a multi- 
tude of  these  clamorous  birds.  All  day 
long  they  are  flying  hither  and  thither,  but 
at  night  they  return  in  flocks,  looking  like 
a swiftly-moving  black  cloud,  screaming  and 
chattering  as  they  fly,  as  if  striving  which 
first  should  reach  a place  of  shelter  and 
rest.  When  settled  on  their  perches,  they 
caw  and  scream  to  one  another  from  tree 
to  tree,  as  if  asking  the  news  of  the  day — 
what  adventures  have  been  met  with,  what 
dangers  encountered  and  averted  and  what 
success  in  foraging.  With  the  first  flash  of 
dawn  the  crows  are  awake.  “ Good-morn- 
ings ” are  quickly  exchanged,  the  work  of 
the  day  is  marked  out,  and  then,  with 
much  fuss  and  flutter,  they  soar  away  like  a 
great  army,  but  at  length  separate  into 
companies ; and  the  work  of  the  day  is 
begun. 

o 


SOME  INDIAN  PESTS.  105 

Crows  are  remorseless  thieves  and  make 
great  havoc.  Visiting-  the  fields  of  the  farm- 
er,  they  devour  the  freshly-sown  seeds  in 
such  quantities  that  the  helpless  husband- 
man, when  planting  his  fields,  is  forced  to 
make  allowance  for  their  depredations. 
They  are  bold,  and  it  is  not  easy  to  fight 
them.  The  report  of  a gun  will  startle 
them  for  a moment.  They  will  wheel  round 
and  round,  caw  most  impudently,  and  then 
defiantly  proceed  to  carry  on  their  work 
of  destruction. 

The  crow  takes  a particular  delight  in 
hiding  anything  that  is  bright  and  shining. 
A lady  was  one  morning  giving  directions 
to  a servant,  when  a crow  darted  through 
the  open  door  and  carried  away  a silver 
fork  from  the  breakfast-table.  On  another 
occasion  a nurse  sitting  in  the  garden  with 
her  charge  was  startled  by  seeing  a large 
knife  covered  with  blood  drop  at  her  feet. 
The  mystery  was  soon  solved,  for  the  cook 
came  rushing  from  the  kitchen  in  search  of 
his  property.  He  had  been  engaged  in 
chopping  meat,  and,  turning  from  his  work 
for  a moment,  a waiting  crow  had  taken  ad- 


io6 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


vantage  of  the  interruption  and  darted  off 
with  his  knife,  dropping  it  in  its  flight. 

In  India  breakfast  is  usually  served  at  a 
late  hour,  but  before  entering  upon  the 
work  of  the  day  a cup  of  tea  and  a slice  of 
toast  are  provided.  If  taken  to  the  veranda 
that  the  freshness  of  the  early  morning  may 
be  enjoyed,  the  crows  immediately  cluster 
around  ; and  if  for  a moment  the  head  be 
turned,  a watching  crow  takes  advantage 
of  the  opportunity  to  secure  a breakfast. 
The  baker  brings  the  bread  to  the  house  in 
a basket  carried  on  his  head.  If  not  care- 
fully covered,  the  crows  help  themselves  to 
a breakfast-roll  or  a bun.  Fruit-venders  also 
carry  their  baskets  of  fruit  upon  their  heads, 
and  as  they  pass  along  crows  often  wheel 
in  the  air  above  them,  watching  for  a chance 
to  abstract  a banana  or  a guava.  On  ac- 
count of  the  excessive  heat  in  India  food  is 
not  prepared  in  the  principal  dwelling,  but  in 
a little  house  apart,  and  as  the  cook  passes 
to  and  fro,  he  has  interested  spectators  in 
the  crows,  who  follow  his  flittings,  hoping 
by  hook  or  crook  to  secure  a dinner. 

A gentleman  once  saw  a crow  hopping 


GETTING  A BREAKFAST. 


io8 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


back  and  forth  before  a chained  do?  to 
which  a bone  had  been  thrown.  By  many 
little  devices  the  crow  tried  to  attract  the 
attention  of  the  dog,  but  for  wise  reasons 
the  dog  refused  to  be  diverted.  The  crow 
at  length  flew  away,  but  soon  returned  with 
a companion.  The  first  crow  took  his 
station  on  the  ground  in  front  of  the  dog, 
as  before,  hopping  about  and  cawing  in  a 
very  familiar,  sociable  way.  The  second 
crow  commenced  wheeling  in  the  air  in  an 
apparently  aimless  way,  but  suddenly 
swooped  down  and  with  his  strong  beak 
struck  the  unsuspecting  dog  with  great  force 
upon  the  spine.  The  dog,  starting  with 
surprise  and  pain,  lifted  his  paws  and  his 
jaws  for  a moment  from  his  precious  bone. 
That  moment  was  the  golden  opportunity 
for  which  Mistress  Crow  had  evidently  been 
watching,  and,  seizing  the  bone,  she  flew 
away  with  the  prize,  followed  by  her  com- 
panion, cawing  in  victory,  while  the  poor 
do?  was  left  with  a smartin?  back  and 
breakfastless. 

We  saw  one  evening  a little  native  boy 
wearily  climbing  a tree  in  the  yard. 


SOME  INDIAN  PESTS.  IO9 

“ What  are  you  going  to  do  ?”  was  asked 
of  the  boy. 

“ Get  my  cap,”  he  answered,  “ which  a 
crow  has  just  snatched  from  my  head  and 
carried  to  the  top  of  this  tree.  Don’t  you 
see  it  away  up  there  among  the  branches?” 

We  often  see  crows  standing  on  the  backs 
of  cows,  buffaloes  or  goats.  These  animals 
suffer  much  annoyance  from  the  presence 
of  ticks  and  other  insects.  They  are  not 
able  to  rid  themselves  of  these  pests,  and 
the  crows — not  from  any  benevolent  mo- 
tives, I am  afraid — with  their  sharp  eyes 
find  these  troublesome  visitors  and  transfer 
them  from  the  backs  of  their  friends  to  their 
own  stomachs.  So  there  is  at  least  one 
little  bit  of  good  that  crows  do,  although 
even  this  is  done  selfishly ; they  give  com- 
fort to  the  poor  suffering  beasts  by  reliev- 
ing them  of  the  most  troublesome  annoy- 
ances. Perhaps  some  people  in  the  United 
States  would  not  object  if  crows  could  be 
taught  to  pick  off  the  mosquitoes  in  the 
summer  days  that  are  so  persistent  in  their 
malicious  work. 


I IO 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


THE  WHITE  ANT. 

Ants  seem  a “ feeble  folk,”  yet  the  white 
ant  is  one  of  the  greatest  annoyances  of 
life  in  India.  It  not  only  destroys  what  is 
placed  upon  the  ground,  but  devours  the 
very  houses  in  which  we  live.  In  the  con- 
struction of  an  Indian  house  but  little  wood 
is  used  because  of  this  small  but  terrible 
enemy.  The  floors  are  made  of  cement, 
but  even  through  this  the  soft  white  ant 
makes  its  way.  The  walls  of  the  houses  in 
some  parts  of  India  are  built  chiefly  of  clay 
and  are  made  very  thick  to  exclude  the  heat. 
Such  houses  have  an  outer  facino-  of  sun- 

o 

dried  bricks.  Though  so  rudely  built,  these 
houses,  when  plastered  and  whitewashed, 
are  quite  neat  in  appearance.  The  roofs 
of  many  of  them  are  covered  with  a very 
thick  thatch.  To  this  thatch  the  white  ant 
will  force  its  way  through  the  clay  walls 
and  will  eat  great  holes,  filling  the  spaces 
with  honeycombed  masses  of  clay.  This 
is  quickly  dissolved  by  the  rain,  and  not  in- 
frequently falls  in  streams  of  mud  into  the 
rooms  below.  Walls  of  very  old  houses  be- 


SOME  INDIAN  PESTS.  I I I 

come  so  perforated  by  these  little  insects 
as  to  be  unsafe.  The  great  beams  of  the 
house  which  bind  it  together  and  upon 
which  the  roof  rests  are  sometimes  com- 
pletely riddled  by  the  white  ants.  The  out- 
side of  such  beams  is  usually  painted ; this 
painted  surface  the  wise  little  creatures  do 
not  disturb,  so  that  a beam  may  appear  fair 
upon  the  outside,  while  within  it  is  a net- 
work of  clay  and  the  tougher  fibres  of  the 
wood.  For  this  reason  it  is  necessary  oc- 
casionally to  examine  the  beams  of  a house 
to  know  that  they  are  sound  and  safe. 

Not  long  ago  the  timbers  supporting  a 
large  room  in  the  house  of  a friend  gave 
way.  The  lady  was  ill  at  the  time,  and  was 
greatly  alarmed  when  she  heard  the  terrible 
crash  which  shook  all  the  building.  She 
thought  of  her  husband  and  her  dear  little 
children,  and  feared  that  they  had  perished, 
for  the  room  into  which  the  timbers  had 
fallen  was  one  in  constant  use;  but  at  the 
time  it  was  quite  empty,  so  no  one  was 
injured,  though  most  of  the  furniture  was 
broken  and  ruined.  The  white  ants  had 
destroyed  the  beams,  eating  out  the  heart 


112 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


of  them  and  leaving  only  the  shell,  thus 
weakening  them,  until  the  weight  resting 
upon  them  was  more  than  they  could  bear. 

If  a box  containing  clothing,  books, 
stores,  or  anything  softer  than  stone  or 
metal,  be  left  upon  the  floor  of  the  dwelling, 
in  one  night  the  contents  will  sometimes  be 
ruined.  Bookcases  are  not  placed  quite 
against  the  wall  of  a room,  but  at  a little 
distance  from  it ; and  so  of  every  other 
article  of  furniture. 

The  white  ant  will  destroy  the  bark  of 
the  largest  tree  if  left  undisturbed.  Plants 
in  the  garden  do  not  escape.  We  see  a 
promising  rose  tree  drooping,  and  an  ex- 
amination reveals  the  white  ants  at  the 
root.  When  these  remorseless  insects 
mark  an  object  for  destruction,  they  spread 
over  it  a thin  covering  of  clay,  beneath 
which  is  a network  of  arches  in  which  they 
pass  and  repass  each  other.  As  fast  as 
the  contents  of  a bookcase  or  a chest  are 
destroyed  these  wonderful  creatures  fill 
the  interstices  with  clay.  Opening  a case 
in  the  library  one  day,  I took  from  one  of 
the  shelves  a volume  the  covers  of  which 


SOME  INDIAN  PESTS.  I I 3 

were  in  perfect  condition,  but  the  leaves 
between  had  entirely  disappeared,  and  the 
space  had  been  filled  with  clay. 

A lady  in  India  received  from  her  friends 
at  home  a box  of  valuable  clothing ; after  ex- 
amining and  admiring  the  beautiful  things 
she  replaced  them.  Opening  the  box  some 
time  after  to  take  from  it  a needed  article, 
she  was  surprised  to  find  the  top  of  it 
covered  with  clay.  Upon  examination,  the 
lady  found  the  entire  box  filled  with  the 
network  of  clay,  which  the  white  ants  had 
left  in  exchange  for  the  goodly  garments, 
which  they  had  altogether  destroyed. 

Havinof  occasion  one  morning  to  call  at 

o o 

a printing-establishment  in  the  city,  we 
found  the  managers  standing  disconsolate- 
ly over  some  boxes  which  had  just  been 
opened,  and  from  which  they  had  expected 
to  take  out  a supply  of  paper  for  work 
waiting  to  be  done;  but  the  white  ants  had 
been  there  before  them,  and  had  left  only 
clay  and  tatters. 

When  an  article  is  placed  some  distance 
from  the  wall,  these  household  pests,  in 
order  to  reach  it,  will  sometimes  build  out 
8 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


1 14 

little  pipes  of  clay,  thus  preparing  a covered- 
way to  the  article  they  intend  to  destroy. 
In  this  manner  pictures  are  often  ruined. 
The  use  of  the  clay  and  the  building  of 
these  bridges,  besides  other  shrewd  and 
cunning  things  these  ants  do,  illustrate 
their  wonderful  instinct. 

As  regards  housekeeping  in  India,  it  is 
emphatically  true  that  “ eternal  vigilance  is 
the  price  of”  safety. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


A MELA,  OR  RELIGIOUS  FAIR,  IN  INDIA. 


LLAHABAD,  the  city  that  was  for 


many  years  our  home,  stands  at  the 
junction  of  two  great  rivers,  the  Ganges 
and  the  Jumna.  The  name  signifies  “city 
of  God,”  and  was  bestowed  upon  it  by 
Akbar,  one  of  the  great  Mogul  emperors. 
Here  he  built  a fine  fort ; over  this  fort 
the  British  flag  now  floats,  and  British  sol- 
diers keep  watch  and  ward  where  once  the 
troops  of  the  proud  Mohammedan  em- 
peror were  the  guardians,  and  English 
matrons  and  maidens  dwell  beneath  the 
roofs  that  once  sheltered  the  dark-eyed 
beauties  of  Akbar’s  royal  household.  Dur- 
ing the  terrible  mutiny  of  1857  many  of  the 
European  residents  of  Allahabad  took  ref- 
uge in  the  fort,  and  there  found  shelter 
until  peace  was  restored, 


115 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


1 16 

To  the  Hindu,  Allahabad  is  known  as 
Prayag,  and,  being  situated  at  the  junction 
of  two  sacred  rivers,  is  regarded  as  one 
of  the  sacred  cities  of  India.  At  the  con- 
fluence of  these  two  rivers  is  a wide  sandy 
plain,  and  here,  during  the  cold  season  of 
every  year,  is  held  a great  religious  fair. 
Even  before  the  time  appointed  for  this 
important  festival  all  the  roads  leading  to 
Allahabad  are  more  or  less  crowded  with 
pilgrims.  They  come  from  all  parts  of  this 
vast  empire — the  old  and  the  young,  the 
rich  and  the  poor,  the  grave  and  the  gay, 
men,  women  and  children. 

Formerly  the  great  majority  of  pilgrims 
arrived  on  foot,  but  now  that  a network 
of  railroads  is  spread  over  India,  touching 
many  of  the  important  cities,  a large  pro- 
portion of  the  strangers  take  advantage 
of  the  cheap  and  easy  means  of  transport 
thus  afforded. 

SCENES  AT  THE  FAIR. 

On  one  occasion  we  drove  down  to  the 
grounds  on  one  of  the  great  days  of  the 
fair.  The  roads  were  full  of  people,  many 


A RELIGIOUS  FAIR. 


117 

on  foot,  some  riding  small  ponies,  others — 
chiefly  women  and  children — in  large  carts 
drawn  by  the  beautiful  white  oxen  of  the 
country.  These  carts  were  usually  covered 
with  a gay  cloth,  and  through  openings 
the  inmates  peeped  curiously  out.  Many 
wealthy  and  ease-loving  Hindu  gentlemen 
were  in  palanquins  borne  on  the  shoulders 
of  men.  Now  a handsome  English  car- 
riage  swept  by  with  outriders  in  gorgeous 
livery,  and  with  all  the  pomp  and  parade  so 
pleasant  to  the  people  of  the  Orient.  Here 
was  an  old  woman,  bent  and  withered,  lean- 
ing on  her  staff.  Such  a pilgrim  a mission- 
ary once  met  on  her  way  to  the  Ganges  ; 
from  the  end  of  a stick  resting  upon  one 
of  her  shoulders  was  suspended  a small 
red  bag. 

“What  are  you  carrying,  my  friend?” 
asked  the  missionary. 

“ My  husband,  sir,”  was  the  somewhat 
startling  answer. 

The  poor  woman’s  husband  had  died  so 
far  from  the  sacred  stream  that  the  body 
could  not  be  committed  to  its  keeping.  It 
had,  therefore,  been  consumed  by  fire  and 


1 18 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


the  ashes  sacredly  preserved,  to  be  cast 
into  the  river  on  some  future  occasion. 

None  of  the  pilgrims  came  to  the  fair 
empty-handed,  for  the  numerous  priests  in 
attendance  do  not  serve  for  naught. 

Among  the  pilgrims  was  a man  slowly 
and  painfully  measuring  his  length  along 
the  ground.  He  bowed  himself  to  the 
earth,  then  rose  again,  placed  his  feet 
where  his  forehead  had  touched  the  ground, 
and  then  once  more  prostrated  himself.  This 
he  had  perhaps  continued  for  weeks — 
possibly  for  months — and  he  expected  to 
acquire  great  merit  because  of  his  self- 
inflicted  torture. 

We  reached,  at  length,  a point  beyond 
which  carriages  could  not  advance.  It  was 
difficult  to  make  our  way  even  with  an 
escort.  We  climbed  to  an  eminence  and 
looked  down  upon  the  plain  between  the 
two  great  rivers.  What  crowds  of  people! 
and  what  prodigality  of  color ! Had  there 
been  a shower  of  rainbows  ? How  per- 
fectly in  keeping  with  the  dazzling  sunlight, 
the  intense  blue  of  the  sky  and  the  soft 
air  seemed  these  brilliant  hues ! Not  a 


AKBAR’S  FORT,  ALLAHABAD. 


120 


BITS  ABOUT  LYDIA. 


cloud  flitted  across  the  sky,  but  the  atmo- 
sphere was  charged  with  a fine  white  dust. 
The  ubiquitous  crow  was  there,  for  these 
festivals  furnish  rare  opportunities  for  the 
exercise  of  the  thieving  propensities  for 
which  this  bird  is  distinguished.  Now  a 
bevy  of  brilliant-plumaged  paraquets  went 
scudding  by  with  noisy  demonstration ; 
then  a vulture  rose  noiselessly  into  the  air. 
On  the  right  was  Akbar’s  fort,  the  sun 
lighting  up  its  gray  walls  and  turrets. 

The  view  from  the  fort  is  very  beautiful. 
On  one  side  is  the  Ganges  ; on  the  other 
side,  rushing  to  meet  this  stream,  is  the 
clearer  Jumna.  Native  villages  are  scat- 
tered here  and  there,  and,  half  hidden  by 
leafy  trees,  their  poverty  is  not  apparent. 
Here,  tall  columns  rise;  there,  the  swelling 
domes  of  some  ancient  tombs.  On  one  side 
is  the  graceful  spire  of  a Christian  church; 
on  the  other  are  the  minarets  of  a mosque 
or  the  glittering  pinnacles  of  a heathen 
temple. 

Throu  ofli  the  kindness  of  a friend  we 
<_> 

were  provided  with  an  elephant  on  which 
to  make  a tour  of  the  grounds.  Obedient  to 


A RELIGIOUS  FAIR. 


I 2 I 


the  command  of  his  keeper,  who  sat  astride 
his  huge  neck,  the  great  creature  kneeled, 
and  remained  almost  motionless  while  a 
ladder  was  placed  against  his  sides  and  we 
mounted  to  our  place.  Slowly  the  elephant 
rose  when  the  order  was  gfiven,  anc}  moved 
majestically  forward.  A policeman  made  a 
passage  for  us  through  the  crowd,  and  our 
wise  and  patient  elephant  seemed  almost 
human  in  his  care  not  to  injure  those  in 
the  throng  who  pressed  against  him. 

The  fair-ground  was  a world  in  itself.  A 
new  city  of  straw  huts  had  sprung  up  as  if 
by  magic  ; and  though  this  is  a religious  gath- 
ering, yet  it  is  also  a place  where  the  na- 
tive dealer  is  ready  to  drive  a hard  bargain. 
There  were  shops  for  the  sale  of  fruit,  of 
grain  and  of  vegetables.  Cloth-merchants 
were  there,  dealers  in  brass  and  copper 
utensils,  ivory  carvings,  native  jewelry,  such 
ornaments  as  the  women  in  Eastern  lands 
prize — bracelets  for  the  arms,  rings  for 
the  ears,  the  nose,  and  even  the  toes, 
bands  for  the  ankles,  ornaments  for  the 
head  and  circlets  for  the  neck.  Idols 
were  temptingly  displayed,  great  ones  and 


122 


BITS  ABOUT  IXDIA. 


small,  of  stone,  of  brass,  of  marble,  and  even 
of  clay,  fantastically  painted.  There  were 
fragrant  flowers  for  offering's,  and  the 
pigments  of  which  the  Hindus  in  their 
worship  make  much  use,  as  also  other  things 
which  I cannot  enumerate. 

Many  of  the  strangers  live  on  the  grounds 
during  their  sojourn  at  the  fair.  Some  have 
the  protection  of  a straw  hut,  but  many  are 
without  shelter.  We  saw  one  woman  com- 
posedly kneading  dough  in  a wooden  bowl ; 
this  dough  she  made  into  thin  cakes,  which 
she  baked  on  a fire  of  coals  and  then  dis- 
tributed to  her  household. 

One  part  of  the  grounds  was  devoted  to 
the  fakirs,  or  religious  mendicants,  twenty 
thousand  of  whom  were  said  to  be  present. 
With  Ion  g matted  hair  and  with  bodies 
nearly  destitute  of  clothing  and  covered 
with  ashes,  they  seemed  to  possess  little 
claim  to  sanctity.  Among  this  class  were 
men  torturing  themselves  in  various  ways. 
Several  were  standing  on  pointed  nails  driv- 
en through  boards ; others  were  sitting  in  a 
circle  of  fire ; others,  standing  on  one  foot, 
and  others,  again,  with  an  arm  uplifted,  mo- 


A RELIGIOUS  FAIR. 


123 


tionless  and  rigid  from  having  been  kept 
long  in  one  position.  These  men  were  all 
supposed  to  be  above  the  influence  of  bodily 
pain,  and  won  from  the  admiring  spectators 
not  only  praise,  but  gifts,  to  which  they 
were  by  no  means  indifferent. 

Beggars  also  abounded  ; not  only  were 
the  very  poor  there,  but  the  maimed,  the 
halt,  the  blind  and  the  loathsome  leper. 
The  enterprising,  money-loving  Parsee — 
the  Jew  of  the  land — was  there  with  a the- 
atre, a temporary  structure  remarkable 
chiefly  for  its  size.  The  venture  had  not 
proved  a success,  we  were  told  ; the  play 
did  not  “draw.”  And  what  wonder?  for 
the  assembled  multitudes,  chiefly  strangers, 
did  not  lack  for  amusement:  the  whole  out- 
side world  was  to  them  a theatre. 

Not  far  from  this  playhouse  were  the 
white  tents  of  the  missionaries  of  two  or 
three  denominations,  and  there,  by  both  the 
foreign  missionary  and  the  native  helpers, 
Christ  was  preached.  Tracts,  religious 
books  and  the  Holy  Scriptures  in  the  lan- 
guages of  the  people  were  distributed  or 
sold,  and  many  who  did  not  care  to  listen  to 


124 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


the  words  of  the  preachers  took  home 
words  of  truth  to  be  read  and  pondered 
amid  less  exciting  scenes.  By  these  means 
much  seed  was  sown,  and  some,  we  doubt 
not,  fell  into  good  ground. 

o o 

Pennants  were  streaming  from  all  parts 
of  the  grounds.  Each  had  its  own  device 
and  was  the  standard  of  a priest,  around 
which  his  followers  rallied.  Bands  of  music 
were  playing,  and  everything  wore  a festive 
look.  A large  and  gay  umbrella  borne  by 
obsequious  attendants  marked  the  passage 
through  the  throng  of  some  person  of  dis- 
tinction. Elephants  were  going  and  re- 
turning, some  bearing  mere  spectators  like 
ourselves;  on  others,  in  haughty  state,  sat 
nearly  nude  fakirs. 

As  we  approached  the  water’s  edge  we 
saw  a man  lying  dead  ; a little  group  had 
gathered  about  the  prostrate  form,  but  the 
crowd,  unheeding,  rushed  on.  Near  the 
point  where  the  pilgrims  went  down  to 
bathe  was  a great  company  of  barbers ; 
four  hundred  men  of  this  craft  were  said  to 
be  in  attendance.  Their  presence  on  these 
occasions  is  considered  essential,  for  the 


A RELIGIOUS  FAIR. 


125 


devout  Hindu  is  shaved  before  immersing 
his  body  in  the  sacred  waters.  This  is  an 
important  part  of  the  ceremony.  The 
heads  of  the  males  are  shaved,  and  I have 
been  told,  also,  the  heads  of  widows. 
From  the  head  of  a wife  it  is  considered 
sufficient  to  sever  a lock  or  two.  To  re- 
ceive the  full  benefit  of  this  pious  act  the 
hair  thus  shorn  from  the  body  should  be  cast 
into  the  sacred  waters,  but  there  has  been 
a complaint  that,  instead,  it  is  sold  to  traders 
who  deal  in  human  hair,  and  who  export  it 
to  Calcutta  and  Bombay,  and  thence  to 
Europe.  When  the  pilgrim  has  bathed,  he 
pays  a visit  to  the  chief  places  of  sanctity, 
and  as  an  indispensable  part  of  the  cere- 
mony makes  offerings  to  the  priests. 

Turning  back  from  the  water’s  edge,  we 
encountered  a procession  of  fakirs.  There 
is  said  to  be  much  rivalry  among  those 
holy  men,  and  in  such  a procession  due  re- 
gard is  paid  to  precedence.  Gay ly- capari- 

soned elephants,  camels  and  horses  led  the 
procession,  while  pennons  floated  out, 
grotesque  in  design  and  gorgeous  in  col- 
or. The  great  cavalcade  filed  past  amid 


126 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


the  clang  of  native  instruments  of  music. 
The  noise  of  the  surging  crowd  was  like 
the  sound  of  the  sea.  On  rushed  the 
throng,  leaping,  dancing,  shouting. 

When  such  multitudes  come  together 
from  great  distances  to  take  part  in  such 
religious  festivals,  and  when  these  festivals 
are  held  in  all  parts  of  India,  we  can  form 
some  faint  idea  of  the  hold  which  the  relig- 
ions of  the  country  have  upon  the  popular 
mind.  But  India,  as  well  as  all  other  hea- 
then lands,  shall  yet  own  allegiance  to  the 
one  true  God;  for  the  mouth  of  the  Lord 
hath  spoken  it. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


A GLIMPSE  OF  TENT-LIFE  IN  INDIA. 

> the  inhabitants  of  those  lands  where 


for  nearly  half  the  year  winter  holds 
rigorous  sway  note  with  peculiar  pleasure 
the  signs  of  returning  spring,  so  do  we 
dwellers  in  this  fervid  clime  welcome  the 
coming  of  the  delightful  cold  season.  Kept 
prisoners  for  long  months  by  the  excessive 
heat,  joyfully  do  we  throw  open  our  doors 
to  the  pleasant  breezes,  and  delicious  is  the 
sense  of  freedom  when  we  can  venture 
abroad  even  at  noonday. 

Neither  during  the  summer  months,  nor 
yet  during  the  rainy  season,  can  the  mis- 
sionary leave  his  home  to  preach  to  the 
people  in  the  distant  villages,  as  there  are 
no  hospitable  abodes  where  he  may  be  sure 
of  a welcome.  When  he  makes  a tour  in 
the  district,  he  must  carry  his  house  with 


127 


128 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


him  ; and,  as  his  portable  dwelling  is  but  a 
canvas  tent,  it  affords  little  protection 
against  the  fierce  heat  of  an  Indian  summer 
or  the  heavy  rains  of  the  monsoon  season. 
The  missionary,  therefore,  seeks,  as  far  as 
is  consistent  with  other  duties,  to  utilize  the 
cold  season  in  visiting-  villages  in  the  dis- 
trict  in  order  to  carry  the  gospel  to  those 
who  will  not  come  to  him. 

First  in  order  comes  the  work  of  prepara- 
tion. Tents  are  brought  out,  rents  are 
repaired,  missing  ropes  and  pegs  are  sup- 
plied, and  the  whole  is  made  into  suitable 
packages.  Folding  beds,  tables  and  chairs 
are  examined  as  to  their  ability  to  maintain 
an  upright  position  when  required  to  do  so  ; 
boxes  are  stored  with  necessary  provisions, 
and  everything  is  made  ready  for  house- 
keeping in  a very  primitive  style.  Nor  are 
books  omitted.  When  all  things  have  been 
prepared,  carts  are  brought — great,  un- 
gainly vehicles  with  ponderous  wooden 
wheels  and  drawn  by  bullocks  not  unlike 
the  kine  of  the  Egyptian  monarch’s  dream, 
very  “ill-favored  and  lean-fleshed.” 

Upon  two  such  primitive  carts  our  pos- 


A GLIMPSE  OF  TENT-LIFE. 


129 


sessions  were  piled  one  lovely  day  in  the 
month  of  December — a miscellaneous  col- 
lection, tents,  furniture,  boxes,  bundles  and 
baskets.  The  carts,  with  the  servants,  were 
despatched  in  the  morning.  We  followed 
several  hours  later  in  a closed  conveyance 
of  a fashion  peculiar  to  India  and  drawn  by 
one  horse.  We  crossed  in  our  journey  the 
fine  railway-bridge  which  spans  the  river 
Jumna,  a massive  structure  measuring  three 
thousand  two  hundred  and  seventy-eight  feet 
between  abutments — one  of  the  triumphs 
of  engineerings  skill  in  India.  The  river 
crossed,  we  drove  nine  miles  over  a good 
road  through  a beautiful  country,  through 
meadows  green  as  in  summer-time  at  home. 
There  were  fields  of  wheat,  and  also  of 
pulse,  of  which  there  are  several  varieties. 
We  saw  beds  of  the  poppy,  and  also  of 
the  castor-oil  plant,  which  here  grow  in 
perfection. 

So  slowly  had  the  carts  crept  along  that 
we  arrived  at  our  destination  before  our 
encampment  was  in  readiness.  A fine 
mangx>-grove  had  been  selected  as  our 
camping-ground,  and  every  one  was  busy. 

9 


130  BITS  ABOUT  IiXDIA. 

A man  whose  special  vocation  it  was 
swept  the  ground ; this  he  did  with  a hand- 
ful of  bamboo  splints  tied  together.  The 
water-carrier  sallied  forth  with  his  water- 
bottle  slung  over  his  shoulder  to  obtain  a 
supply  of  water.  The  cook  selected  a con- 
venient place  for  his  base  of  operations, 
and  with  a small  instrument  resembling  a 
trowel  began  loosening  the  earth ; over  this 
loosened  earth  the  water-carrier,  upon  his 
return,  poured  water  from  the  mouth  of  the 
leather  “ bottle.”  The  moist  earth  was  then 
moulded  into  shape,  and  soon  a number  of 
little  semicircular  walls  were  built  up,  and 
a range  for  the  cook  was  shortly  in  readiness. 
The  tents  were  speedily  pitched,  the  fur- 
niture was  arranged  and  books  and  maps 
were  in  their  places. 

The  road  from  a large  native  town  passed 
near  the  grove  in  which  we  were  encamped, 
and  we  heard  constantly  the  hum  of  human 
voices.  Some  of  the  passers-by  stopped 
to  ask  what  sahib , or  European,  had  come 
among  them.  Women  bearing  heavy  loads 
of  wood  upon  their  heads  came  to  the  en- 
campment. The  cook  bargained  for  a sup- 


WOMEN  WITH  WATER-JARS. 


1 32 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


ply  of  fuel,  and  while  he  counted  out  the 
price  the  tired  woman  sat  down  on  the 
ground  for  a moment’s  rest. 

Carts  laden  with  women  and  children 
went  creaking  by ; they  had  been  to  the 
Ganges,  which  flowed  by  the  town,  to  bathe, 
and  as  they  returned  to  their  homes  they 
were  chanting  a hymn  in  honor  of  their 
gods.  Other  carts  went  by  laden  with 
grain  or  cotton  on  their  way  to  the  railway- 
station  ; then  a train  of  bullocks  followed 
with  panniers  heavily  laden.  Many  of 
these  animals  wore  around  the  neck  a 
string  of  little  bells,  which  tinkled  not  un- 
musically. Women  with  water-jars  poised 
upon  their  heads  trooped  along,  the  orna- 
ments encircling  their  ankles  tinkling  as 
they  moved.  On  a rude  bier  a dead  man 
was  carried  to  the  Ganges,  followed  by  a 
little  company  of  mourners. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  the  missionary  and 
his  helpers  went  to  the  large  town  not  far 
from  the  encampment  to  carry  the  glad 
tidings  to  the  people,  and  soon  a company 
gathered  about  the  speakers.  Some  lis- 
tened quietly,  others  were  disposed  to 


A GLIMPSE  OF  TENT-LIFE. 


133 


cavil ; some  treated  lightly  the  sacred  mes- 
sage, and  a few  appeared  much  interested. 
Portions  of  Scripture  and  books  and  tracts 
in  the  languages  of  the  people  were  offered 
for  sale,  the  price  asked  not  representing 
the  value  of  the  book,  but  enough  to  give 
it  some  worth  in  the  eyes  of  the  purchaser. 
The  people  are  fond  of  music,  and  are 
pleased  when  singing  is  introduced. 

Night  after  night  in  some  village  at  a 
convenient  distance  from  the  encampment 
such  meetings  were  held.  At  these  even- 
ing gatherings  the  missionary  frequently 
makes  use  of  a sciopticon  or  a superior 
magic-lantern  to  attract  the  people.  Sitting 
about  in  the  darkness,  the  work  of  the  day 
over,  they  are  pleased  to  see  flash  through 
the  gloom  upon  a white  wall  or  a screen  a 
picture  Oriental  in  scene  and  brilliant  in 
color — the  prodigal  son,  the  ten  virgins, 
the  raising  of  the  widow’s  son,  the  giving 
of  the  law  or  the  lifting  up  of  the  serpent 
in  the  wilderness — and  they  listen  not  only 
patiently,  but  with  marked  interest,  to  the 
story  it  represents.  Not  infrequently,  under 
cover  of  the  darkness,  orreat  numbers  of 


134 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


women  join  the  audience,  while  to  the  chil- 
dren and  the  young  people  these  object- 
lessons  are  always  a peculiar  attraction. 
Carrying  the  picture  in  memory,  they  nat- 
urally link  with  it  the  words  of  the 
preacher. 

Two  large  villages  not  far  removed  from 
our  encampment  enjoy  the  distinction  of 
being  known  as  “bazaar-towns.”  In  each 
of  these  villages  a market  is  held  two 
days  in  the  week.  These  market-days  are 
important  occasions  to  the  people.  Those 
living  in  the  country  and  in  the  smaller 
villages  bring  at  these  times  such  articles 
as  they  have  for  sale — grain  of  various 
kinds,  sugar-cane,  cotton,  thread  spun  by 
the  women  of  the  households,  coarse  cloth, 
spices,  tobacco.  The  potter  comes  with 
his  wares,  and  the  vessels  moulded  by 
his  skillful  hand  are  of  various  designs, 
and  many  of  them  are  exceedingly  graceful 
in  shape.  The  ironmonger  also  is  there, 
and  the  dealer  in  briorht  brass. 

o 

The  open  square  where  the  market  is 
held  is  indeed  a lively  spot  during  the 
hours  of  traffic.  Those  who  bring  mer- 


A GLIMPSE  OF  TEXT- LIFE.  1 35 

chandise  for  sale  are  usually  purchasers 
as  well.  Long  before  you  reach  the  spot 
you  hear  the  buzz  of  the  multitude,  and 
upon  a nearer  approach  the  sound  becomes 
almost  deafening. 

These  occasions  when  the  people  from 
the  country  and  the  surrounding  villages 
are  gathered  together  furnish  excellent 
opportunities  for  preaching  the  gospel. 
Even  in  the  midst  of  so  much  confusion 
and  shrewd  bargaining  there  are  always 
many  at  leisure — mere  lookers-on,  or  those 
who,  having  transacted  the  business  for 
which  they  have  come,  are  at  liberty  to 
seek  a new  interest.  At  such  times  books 
find  ready  purchasers.  One  man  selects 
for  himself  a book,  attracted  by  its  title; 
another  is  pleased  with  a book  or  a tract 
handsomely  illustrated,  and  remembers  a 
bright-eyed  boy  at  home  who  would  prize 
such  a volume  ; and  thus  into  many  homes 
are  carried  words  of  truth. 

What  glorious  nights  we  had,  the  moon 
shining  in  splendor ! and  when  her  face 
was  hidden,  the  heavens  were  radiant  with 
starry  glory.  But  the  nights  were  far  from 


136 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


silent.  Jackals  were  abroad,  making  the 
darkness  hideous  with  their  cries ; owls 
hooted  in  the  branches  above  us,  and  other 
feathery  denizens  of  the  gloom  made  riot, 
while  dogs  without  masters — homeless  curs, 
lank  and  ill-favored — prowled  about,  intent 
on  plunder.  With  the  dawn  these  unwel- 
come visitants  vanished,  save  the  dogs,  and 
they  were  always  present. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  each  day  the 
missionary  and  his  helpers  went  forth  to 
sow  the  good  seed — perhaps  to  a distant 
village ; and  wherever  they  could  find  an 
audience,  whether  under  the  shade  of  a 
tree  by  the  roadside  or  in  the  village  itself, 
they  were  ready  to  speak.  In  this  way  the 
morning  hours  were  spent  until  the  increas- 
ing heat  warned  them  that  it  was  time  to 
seek  the  shelter  of  their  tents.  Breakfast 
and  worship  followed.  The  hours  during 
the  heat  of  the  day  were  devoted  to  study, 
to  reading,  writing,  translating  or  the  enter- 
tainment of  visitors,  who  came,  some  from 
curiosity  to  see  how  Europeans  live,  some 
to  purchase  books  or  to  inquire  more  close- 
ly concerning  the  things  which  they  had 


A GLIMPSE  OF  TENT-LIFE.  1 37 

heard.  Then,  as  the  day  wore  to  its  close, 
the  missionary  and  his  helpers  again  went 
forth  to  perform  their  labors  of  love  ; and 
thus  day  after  day  passed. 

When  the  wife  of  a missionary  accom- 
panies her  husband,  she  is  sometimes  able 
to  take  with  her  the  wife  of  a native  helper, 
and  in  her  company  visits  the  homes  of  the 
villagers  and  tries  to  tell  the  women  who 
gather  about  her  of  the  Lord  who  loves 
them  and  who  died  to  save  them.  Unac- 
customed as  are  the  women  in  the  country 
to  the  sight  of  Europeans,  it  is  less  difficult 
to  gain  access  to  them  if  accompanied  by 
one  of  their  own  people. 

Occasionally,  in  the  early  morning,  I 
rode  out  beyond  the  town  to  the  river’s 
bank,  where  were  two  or  three  temples. 
About  one  of  these  I usually  found  a group 
of  well-dressed  women  and  a troop  of 
bright-eyed  little  maidens,  daughters  come 
with  their  mothers  to  worship.  Each  one 
brought  an  offering — a handful  of  rice,  a 
little  flour,  a few  copper  coins  or  a wreath 
of  fragrant  white  blossoms.  If  I stopped 
to  talk  with  the  women,  they  listened  atten- 


138  BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 

tively  ; but  the  priest  showed  his  displeasure 
by  frowning  darkly. 

A conspicuous  object  in  the  middle  of 
one  of  the  roads  not  far  from  our  encamp- 
ment was  a great  well  surrounded  by  a 
wide  platform  of  masonry;  women  were 
constantly  going  to  or  returning  from  this 
well.  With  a water-jar  poised  upon  one 
shoulder  or  resting  upon  her  head,  her 
chadar — a sheet-like  covering — wrapped 
gracefully  about  her  head,  her  anklets  and 
the  ornaments  upon  her  unshod  feet  tink- 
ling as  she  walked  along, — such  a woman 
made  a truly  Oriental  picture,  a bit  of 
Bible  history  illustrated.  On  the  platform 
of  this  well,  tired  travelers  sat  to  rest. 

Passing  a house  one  day,  I heard  from 
within  the  sound  of  weeping,  and  stopped 
to  inquire  the  cause. 

“ It  is  nothing,”  was  answered.  “A  bride 
is  going  to  the  home  of  her  husband.” 

On  such  occasions  the  bride  loudly 
laments  and  clings  to  the  friends  she  is 
about  to  leave,  while  they  tenderly  console 
her.  The  bride  weeps — not  only  because 
her  grief  is  so  great,  but  because  it  is  the 


GOING  TO  THE  WF.LI.. 


140 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


custom  to  do  so ; and  if  she  failed  to  make 
a show  of  grief,  she  would  be  regarded  as 
lacking  in  natural  affection. 

One  morning  in  my  ride  I came  upon  a 
very  large  and  fine  tank,  and  close  beside 
it  was  a temple  ornamented  with  handsome 
stone  carvings.  From  the  swelling  dome 
of  the  temple  a young  tree  was  growing. 
Some  seed  wafted  by  the  wind  or  carried 
by  a bird  in  the  air  had  found  lodgment 
there,  and  the  roots  of  the  young  tree,  feel- 
ing their  way  through  the  crevices,  were 
gradually  accomplishing  the  ruin  of  the 
shrine.  I dismounted  and  entered  the  tem- 
ple to  examine  the  interior,  and  no  objection 
was  made  when  I crossed  the  threshold  into 
the  sacred  place  where  the  hideous  idol 
was  enshrined.  The  loungers  about  said 
to  me  in  explanation, 

“ Few  worship  here  now;  and  the  temple 
is  falling  into  decay.  It  was  built,”  they 
added,  “ by  a wealthy  banker,  who  had  also 
made  the  great  tank  beside  it.” 

This  man  had  long  since  died,  and  no  one 
cared  to  keep  in  repair  what  had  cost  so 
much  treasure,  as,  since  both  temple  and 


A GLIMPSE  OF  TENT- LIFE.  141 

tank  bore  the  name  of  the  dead  banker,  to 
him  would  accrue  all  the  merit. 

A missionary  usually  spends  several  days 
in  one  encampment.  During  one  morning 
two  or  three  villages  may  be  visited,  and 
the  word  there  be  preached.  Other  villages 
are  visited  in  the  afternoon  and  evening, 
and  so  from  day  to  day  the  work  goes  on 
until  the  missionary  and  his  helpers  have 
preached  once,  and  perhaps  two  or  three 
times,  in  all  the  villages  that  can  be  reached 
from  the  encampment.  In  this  way  much 
seed  is  sown,  and  some  of  it  bears  fruit. 

During  our  first  cold  season  in  India  it 
was  our  privilege  to  accompany  two  of  our 
missionaries  on  an  itineration.  For  some 
days  our  tents  were  pitched  in  a grove  near 
several  villages,  none  of  which  had  before 
been  visited  by  a Christian  missionary. 
One  of  the  villagers,  at  that  time  knowing 
nothing  of  Jesus,  has  been  for  several  years 
a most  useful  preacher,  finding  his  highest 
happiness  in  making  known  to  his  country- 
men the  Saviour  he  has  found. 

Sitting  in  our  tent  at  night,  alone,  but  not 
lonely,  there  sometimes  broke  upon  my  ears 


142 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


the  sweet  sound  of  Christian  hymns  sung 
by  the  helpers — precious  words  of  truth  set 
to  native  airs.  It  was  a delightful  sound, 
and  I thought  how  different  would  be  the 
condition  of  India,  socially,  physically  and 
morally,  as  well  as  spiritually,  were  her  hea- 
then songs  exchanged  for  the  praises  of 
Immanuel. 


CHAPTER  X. 

EASTERN  CUSTOMS. 

INCE  we  have  lived  among  a people 


whose  manners  and  customs  resemble 


so  nearly  the  manners  and  customs  of  the 
East  when  the  Bible  was  written,  the  Bible 
has  seemed  to  us  a new  book,  and  its  para- 
bles and  illustrations  have  had  a deeper  and 
clearer  signification. 

In  the  part  of  India  in  which  we  live  the 
grain  ripens  during  the  cold  season  and  is 
cut  in  March — not  with  machines  cunningly 
made  and  in  eager  haste,  as  in  some  coun- 
tries, but  with  sickles.  The  reapers  are 
often  women,  and  the  work  is  performed  in 
a most  leisurely  manner;  for  in  the  season 
of  harvest  there  is  little  fear  of  storms,  one 
bright  day  following  another  with  scarce  a 
cloud  to  dim  the  brightness  of  the  glowing 
sun.  Near  our  house  a field  of  grain  be- 


143 


144 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


longing  to  some  villager  has  ripened.  We 
have  watched  the  reapers  at  their  work,  and 
now  the  store  of  gathered  grain  is  laid  upon 
the  threshing-floor  and  is  beino-  trodden  out 
by  oxen,  the  patient  animals  driven  in  a circle 
over  this  floor.  The  Israelites  were  com- 
manded not  to  muzzle  the  ox  while  treading 
out  the  corn,  but  in  India  the  muzzle  is 
often  used.  As  the  work  of  threshing  the 
grain  goes  on  the  entire  mass  is  occasionally 
turned  ; when  the  grain  has  been  sufficiently 
trodden,  it  is  tossed  against  the  wind.  By 
this  process  the  straw  and  the  chaff  are  blown 
away,  while  the  grain  falls  to  the  ground. 
I have  often  seen  the  husbandman  standing 
with  a shallow  basket  filled  with  grain  wait- 
ing patiently  for  a favoring  breeze. 

Water  for  household  purposes  is  brought 
in  a leathern  “ bottle.”  Just  such  “ bottles  ” 
are  now  in  use  in  India  as  are  mentioned  in 
the  Bible ; they  are  made  of  the  skins  of 
animals,  the  skin  of  the  goat  being  most 
frequently  used.  The  water  is  poured  into 
the  skin  at  the  aperture  in  the  neck.  The 
“bottle  ” is  then  securely  tied  and  sluncjacross 
the  back  of  the  water-carrier.  In  a country 


EASTERN  WATER  MERCHANT. 


10 


146 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


where  the  heat  is  so  intense  as  in  India  the 
services  of  no  class  of  men  are  in  greater 
demand  than  are  those  of  the  water-bearer, 
who  is  held  in  high  regard  by  the  people, 
his  name,  ( bihishti ) signifying  “ of  or  belong- 
ing to  Paradise,”  In  some  cities  the  water- 
carrier,  as  he  passes  along  the  street  bend- 
ing beneath  his  load,  strikes  a small  brass 
cup,  which  he  carries  poised  upon  one  of 
his  fingers,  with  a bit  of  metal,  which  is 
fastened  to  another  finger,  thus  producing 
a tinkling  sound  by  which  he  attracts  atten- 
tion to  his  precious  store. 

Sometimes  wealthy  Hindus,  in  order  to 
lay  up  for  themselves  a large  store  of  merit, 
plant  a grove,  build  a rest-house  for  way- 
farers or  dig  a well  on  a public  road.  A trav- 
eler in  India  usually  carries  with  him  a small 
brass  vessel  and  a long,  strong  cord,  with 
which  he  can  draw  water  from  a public  well 
to  quench  his  thirst.  Without  such  provis- 
ion he  is  in  just  the  condition  in  which  the 
woman  of  Samaria  found  the  Saviour  when 
she  said  to  him,  “ Thou  hast  nothing  to  draw 
with,  and  the  well  is  deep.” 

Frequently  a wealthy  and  devout  Hindu 


EASTERN  CUSTOMS. 


1 47 


will  employ  a Brahman  or  Brahmans  to 
give  water  to  thirsty  travelers  as  they 
journey.  We  often  see  such  men  on 
much-frequented  roads,  protected  from  the 
sun  by  a thatched  hut  and  surrounded  by 
jars  filled  with  water.  For  such  a service 
Brahmans  are  employed,  because  of  the 
bondage  of  caste  by  which  the  natives  of 
India  are  enthralled.  As  a Brahman  is 
a man  of  the  highest  caste,  all  can  take 
water  from  his  hands,  but  on  no  account 
would  His  Lordship  come  in  contact  with  a 
person  of  inferior  caste.  Should  such  a man 
ask  water  from  him,  the  Brahman  would  pour 
it  from  his  own  vessel  into  the  cup  of  the 
traveler  or  into  the  man’s  joined  hands  as 
he  knelt  before  him,  at  the  same  time  hold- 
ing himself  at  a distance  lest  even  his  gar- 
ments should  be  defiled. 

When  traveling  in  the  Himalayas,  we 
have  seen  the  skins  of  animals  used  as 
receptacles  for  grain.  The  skins  employed 
for  this  purpose  are  those  of  large  animals, 
as  the  buffalo,  while  the  skins  of  eoats  or 
of  kids  are  used  for  flour. 

We  often  see  two  women  grinding  at  a 


148  BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 

mill.  Two  circular  stones  are  placed  upon 
the  ground,  one  above  another.  In  the 
upper  one  there  is  a handle.  The  women 
sit  opposite  each  other,  with  one  hand  keep- 
ing the  upper  stone  in  motion,  and  with 
the  other  putting  the  grain  into  a small 
aperture  in  the  centre  of  the  stone.  This 
work  is  very  laborious,  and  is  regarded  as 
menial ; it  is,  therefore,  performed  by  serv- 
ants, except  in  the  households  of  the  poor. 
It  is  usually  the  first  work  of  the  day,  and 
therefore  the  earliest  sound  we  hear  in  the 
morning  is  often  the  sound  of  the  grinding. 

In  the  first  chapter  of  the  book  of  the 
prophet  Isaiah  is  an  enumeration  of  orna- 
ments corresponding  very  nearly  with  the 
ornaments  in  use  by  the  women  of  India  at 
the  present  time.  Very  fond  are  Indian 
ladies  of  the  tinkling  ornaments  about  their 
feet,  the  chains,  the  bracelets,  the  earrings, 
the  rings  and  the  nose-jewels,  the  glasses 
and  the  veils.  I have  seen  the  young 
daughters  in  wealthy  families  almost  covered 
with  jewels,  and  very  proud  were  the  little 
maidens  of  their  ornaments. 

In  Genesis  we  read  that  as  the  patriarch 


WOMEN  AT  THE  MILL. 


150  BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 

Abraham  sat  in  his  tent  door  in  the  heat 
of  the  day  he  lifted  his  eyes  and  saw  two 
men  standing  by  his  side.  He  knew  not 
that  they  were  angels  sent  unto  him  with 
glad  tidings,  but,  with  true  Eastern  polite- 
ness, he  welcomed  them  cordially,  entreat- 
ing them  to  tarry  until  they  had  refreshed 
themselves.  His  first  act  of  hospitality 
toward  his  stranger-guests  was  to  offer 
them  water  with  which  to  wash  their  feet. 
This  custom  still  prevails  in  India.  One 
day,  while  visiting  the  ladies  of  a native 
household,  a friend  of  the  family  arrived. 
She  was  hospitably  welcomed  by  the  in- 
mates of  the  zenana,  one  of  whom  ran  at 
once  and  brought  water,  which  was  poured 
over  her  feet. 

Nothinor  is  more  common  in  India  than 

c> 

to  see  persons  carrying  their  beds.  A 
company  of  travelers  passing  through  a 
part  of  the  country  where  there  are  stran- 
gers will  sometimes,  when  niHit  overtakes 
them,  spread  under  a tree  by  the  roadside 
the  mats  they  have  brought  with  them,  and, 
wrapping  themselves  in  the  garments  with 
which  they  have  been  girded  by  day,  will 


HINDU  BURIAL. 


152 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


sleep  undisturbed  until  the  morning,  when, 
again  girding  themselves  for  travel,  rolling 
together  the  mat  upon  which  they  have 
slept  and  securing  it  in  the  same  bundle 
with  their  other  scanty  possessions,  they 
will  continue  their  journey. 

The  road  passing  in  front  of  our  bunga- 
low leads  to  the  Ganges.  When  the  doors 
are  thrown  open,  a sound  of  bitter  wailing 
is  sometimes  borne  to  our  ears,  and,  look- 
ing out,  we  see  a funeral  procession  on  its 
way  to  the  sacred  river.  The  body,  wrapped 
in  a new  cloth,  is  laid  upon  a bed  or  a rude 
bier  made  of  bamboo,  over  which  have 
been  spread  straw  and  a piece  of  new  cloth. 
Four  men  carry  the  bier  to  the  river  or 
place  of  burning,  and  repeat,  as  they  move 
rapidly  along,  “ Ram  is  true  ! Ram  is  true!” 
Following  the  bier  are  the  friends  of  the 
deceased  making  bitter  lamentations. 

These  sad  funeral  processions  often  bring 
to  mind  the  New-Testament  account  of  the 
company  that  gathered  around  the  widow 
of  Nain  when  with  breaking  heart  she 
followed  her  only  son  to  his  burial.  In 
India,  when  a body  is  taken  to  the  river  or 


EASTERN  CUSTOMS. 


153 


to  the  place  of  burning,  the  procession 
halts  at  least  once  on  the  journey  to  per- 
form some  idolatrous  ceremonies.  That 
funeral  procession  at  Nain  was  stopped  by 
the  Lord  himself,  his  heart  full  of  com- 
passion for  the  mourner  so  stricken.  He 
touched  the  bier  and  spoke  to  the  young 
man  whose  ears  death  had  stopped : the 
voice  divine  gave  life  to  the  dead — gave 
back  to  the  mourning-  mother  her  son. 
When  she  passed  outside  the  city  gate, 
followed  by  a great  company  of  sympa- 
thizing friends,  her  heart  was  desolate,  her 
last  earthly  treasure  torn  from  her  grasp; 
when  she  passed  through  the  gate  of  the 
city  on  her  return-journey,  she  was  once 
more  a happy,  rejoicing  mother,  and  the 
sounds  of  lamentation  were  changed  to 
shouts  of  rejoicing. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


SOME  SUPERSTITIONS  OF  THE  PEOPLE  OF 
INDIA. 

HE  life  of  a Hindu,  from  its  beginning 

o o 


to  its  close,  is  hedged  about  with 
restrictions  innumerable.  Caste  throws 
about  him  fetters  from  whose  bondage  he 
feels  there  is  no  escape.  If  born  a Brah- 
man, he  accepts  his  position  as  his  right. 
He  does  not  even,  as  the  Pharisee,  thank 
God  that  he  is  not  as  other  men  ; for  is 
not  he  himself  God  ? He  goes  through 
life,  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave,  with  a 
haughty  disregard  for  those  beneath  him  ; 
their  sorrows  and  their  sufferings  move 
him  not.  His  world  is  another  world  from 
that  in  which  the  common  herd  live  and 
move  ; his  highest  ambition  is  to  keep  him- 
self from  pollution  with  the  unhallowed 
creatures  about  him,  and  to  exact  from 
them  the  deference  due  a being  so  exalted. 


154 


WORSHIPING  A BRAHMAN. 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


150 

A man  of  low  caste  has  never  an  aspira- 
tion above  the  scale  of  his  birth.  Have 
not  the  gods  so  decreed  it?  and  what  is  he, 
that  he  should  rebel  against  fate  ? He  will 
worship,  as  becomes  one  of  his  low  estate, 
the  lordly  Brahman,  and  perchance  in  some 
future  birth  he  may  be  other  than  the 
despised  creature  he  is  at  present. 

The  Hindu  is  in  bondage  to  the  grossest 
superstitions.  Superstition  enters  into  the 
warp  and  the  woof  of  his  daily  life.  He  is 
met  on  the  very  threshold  of  existence  by 
this  intolerant  master,  and  to  the  end  of 
life  must  serve  him  with  rigor.  Soon  after 
the  birth  of  a child  the  family  priest  or 
astrologer  is  called  and  the  horoscope  of 
the  child  is  cast,  and  thus  is  forged  the  first 
link  in  the  chain  which  will  bind  hand  and 
foot  its  unresisting  victim. 

A Hindu  is  not  free,  in  the  more  import- 
ant matters  of  life,  to  act  as  inclination  or 
judgment  may  dictate,  nor  is  he  less  a slave 
to  superstition  and  cunningly-devised  fables 
in  minor  matters.  No  orthodox  Hindu  sets 
out  upon  a journey  until  he  has  first  con- 
sulted a priest  to  ascertain  if  the  time  pro- 


SOME  SUPERSTITIONS. 


157 


posed  be  auspicious.  Should  the  decision 
be  adverse,  he  tarries  at  home  until  he  can 
go  forth  assured  that  his  journey  will  be  a 
prosperous  one. 

When  a father  desires  to  arrange  a 
marriage  for  his  daughter,  and  the  friends 
and  relatives  have  made  choice  of  a person 
whom  they  regard  as  suitable,  the  famil) 
priest  is  consulted,  and  a copy  of  the  horo 
scope  of  the  intended  bridegroom  is  pu 
into  his  hands.  The  priest  gravely  com- 
pares this  with  the  horoscope  of  the  bride 
expectant.  Should  he  find  that  the  stars 
of  the  horoscope  of  the  intended  bride- 
groom are  more  powerful  than  are  those 
of  the  girl’s  horoscope,  he  declares  that  the 
marriage  will  be  auspicious ; if  otherwise, 
no  matter  how  great  may  be  the  disap- 
pointment of  the  parties  concerned,  he 
does  not  hesitate  to  communicate  the  un- 
welcome intelligence. 

When  a Hindu  leaves  his  home  on  some 
errand  of  business  or  of  pleasure  and  is 
obliged  to  turn  back,  he  regards  that  as 
an  ill  omen  and  patiently  busies  himself 
at  home  for  a time  before  he  again  sets  out. 


158 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


The  morning  must  be  an  anxious  time  to 
a credulous  Hindu,  for  upon  the  sights  that 
meet  his  eyes,  the  sounds  that  greet  his 
ears,  the  creatures  that  cross  his  pathway, 
depends  the  success  or  the  failure  of  the 
day’s  undertakings.  Eyes  and  ears  are 
therefore  alert.  If  on  the  street,  intent 
on  business,  or  at  home,  occupied  with 
his  accustomed  duties,  he  hears  a person 
sneeze,  he  for  a moment  halts  in  his  walk 
or  pauses  in  his  work.  Failing  to  do  this, 
he  could  not  hope  for  success.  To  meet  in 
the  morning  a person  of  bad  reputation 
portends  evil.  If,  therefore,  during  the  day 
a Hindu  meets  with  misfortune,  he  exclaims, 
“ Alas  ! what  wretch’s  face  did  my  eyes  fall 
upon  as  I went  forth  this  morning?”  The 
cry  of  a jackal,  heard  at  dawn,  conveys  to 
the  Hindu  the  assurance  that  a death  has 
just  occurred.  The  monkey  is  regarded 
by  the  Hindus  as  sacred,  yet  it  is  esteemed 
a misfortune  to  hear  the  name  of  this  ani- 
mal mentioned  in  the  morning,  as  that  por- 
tends hunger,  and  by  a Hindu  a full  stom- 
ach is  regarded  as  one  of  the  supreme  de- 
lights of  existence.  A merchant  will  not  sell 


BRAHMAN  FAMILY. 


i6o 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


to  his  most  valued  friend  the  smallest  arti- 
cle on  credit  should  that  friend  chance  to 
be  his  first  customer  in  the  morning;  to  do 
this  would  be  to  invite  ill-luck  for  the  entire 
day.  He  therefore  insists  that  his  first  sale 
in  the  morning  shall  be  a cash  sale  ; he  is 
then  ready  to  serve  his  friend,  waiting  his 
pleasure  for  payment. 

If  a snake  or  a jackal  or  a cat  chance  to 
cross  the  path  of  a Hindu,  he  is  disturbed; 
for  evil,  he  is  sure,  will  betide  him.  To 
meet  a person  afflicted  with  blindness  or 
a leper  or  one  deformed  or  a widow  also 
augurs  misfortune.  When  a Hindu  hears 
a crow  cawing  in  a withered  tree,  he  sighs, 
“ Now  I know  that  some  evil  is  about  to 
befall  me.”  A fox  crosses  his  path,  and  his 
heart  is  light ; for  this  is  a harbinger  of 
good.  He  sees  a lizard  light  on  a passer-by 
and  run  nimbly  up  his  body,  and  he  moves 
forward  with  spirits  elated,  for  this  little  creat- 
ure is  to  him  a messenger  of  blessing.  He 
hears  a bride  cry  as  she  is  leaving  the  home 
of  her  parents  for  the  home  of  her  husband  : 
this  is  an  auspicious  omen.  A Brahman 
passes  him  bearing  a vessel  filled  with 


SOME  SUPERSTITIONS. 


161 


water  from  the  Ganges,  and  he  feels  that 
he  has  received  a benediction.  As  he  is 
leaving  his  door  in  the  morning  the  music 
of  a temple-gong  strikes  on  his  ear,  and  his 
heart  is  glad ; for  a day  thus  ushered  in  is 
sure  to  be  a successful  day. 

An  owl  hoots  in  the  night,  and  terror 
seizes  the  Hindu  ; for  the  owl  is  a bird  of  ill- 
omen — a sure  harbinger  of  death — and 
with  affrighted  cries  the  unwelcome  visi- 
tor  is  put  to  flight.  The  Hindu  fancies  that 
this  bird  waits  and  watches  to  do  him  evil ; 
a child’s  name  is,  therefore,  never  mentioned 
at  night,  lest  an  owl  should  hear  it,  and  this 
hateful  bird  would,  it  is  thought,  repeat  it 
every  night,  and  the  child,  the  innocent  vic- 
tim of  its  evil  influence,  would  pine  away 
and  die.  The  word  samp , “ a snake,”  is 
never  spoken  by  a Hindu  at  night;  to  do 
this  would,  according  to  his  superstition, 
brii'm  the  dreaded  creature  near.  The 

o 

word  “wolf”  for  the  same  reason,  is  only 
pronounced  in  the  daytime. 

The  Hindustani  word  bujhana  means  “ to 
extinguish.”  The  Hindus  use  it  in  refer- 
ence  to  fire,  but  not  in  reference  to  a lamp, 


n 


162 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


though  it  applies  equally  to  both.  To  apply 
it  to  the  latter  would,  they  are  taught  to  be- 
lieve, bring  upon  a family  the  direst  of  evils 
— the  death  of  the  husband  and  father,  the 
lamp  or  light  of  the  household. 

One  Hindu  woman  never  says  to  another, 
“Your  child  looks  well  and  strong.”  The 
child  may  be  in  perfect  health,  plump  and 
full  of  happy  life,  but  the  visitor,  if  she 
would  please  the  mother,  says,  “Your  child 
seems  languid  and  looks  thin  and  ill.”  To 
speak  of  the  beauty  or  the  fine  condition 
of  a child  would  make  the  mother  tremble 
and  fill  her  heart  with  fear  lest  the  evil  eye, 
cast  upon  her  darling,  should  bring  dis- 
aster. 

Upon  entering  a house  or  when  sitting 
down,  a Hindu  removes  his  shoes;  but 
should  one  shoe,  as  it  is  laid  aside,  fall  upon 
the  other,  he  does  not  suffer  it  to  remain 
thus,  because  this  would  impel  him  to  travel, 
and  to  prevent  such  a necessity  the  offend- 
ing shoe  is  instantly  removed. 

The  greatest  festival  of  the  Bengalee 
Hindus  is  held  in  honor  of  their  goddess 
Doorga ; she  is  supposed  to  return  to  her 


THE  GODDESS  DOORGA. 


164 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


father’s  house  at  this  time  with  her  three 
children.  Wealthy  Hindus  have  a repre- 
sentation of  the  goddess  in  clay,  and  carry 


ORIENTAL  PUTTING  OFF  HIS  SHOES. 


out  the  whole  of  the  ceremony  in  grand 
style.  It  lasts  but  one  or  two  days,  after 
which  the  idols  are  cast  into  the  river.  From 


SOME  SUPERSTITIONS.  1 65 

the  water,  or  through  the  water,  the  god- 
dess is  supposed  to  go  back  to  her  husband, 
who  is  believed  to  live  beyond  the  Hima- 
layas. 

As  the  Hindu  goes  on  his  way  or  tarries 
at  home  his  spirits  rise  and  fall  as  shadow 
and  sunshine  chase  each  other.  Every  hour 
of  his  life  he  is  beset  with  fears  or  elated 
by  hopes. 

To  the  peace  which  the  heart  of  the 
Christian  knows  because  his  mind  is  stayed 
upon  his  God — a God  who  cares  for  him 
and  who  orders  all  his  steps — the  heart 
of  the  Hindu  is  a stranger. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

A GLIMPSE  OF  HOME-LIFE. 

BUT  a short  distance  from  our  home 
lives  a Hindu  family  to  whom  I pay 
occasional  visits.  A door  in  the  wall  close 
by  the  roadside  opens  into  a court  in  the 
centre  of  which  is  a small  temple,  its  dome 
supported  by  slender  pillars.  In  this  tem- 
ple, on  a slightly-elevated  platform,  is  an 
idol  which  is  usually  decked  with  floral  offer- 
ings. There  is  a well  quite  near  the  temple, 
and  here  the  worshipers  bathe. 

Passing  through  this  court,  the  visitor 
enters  a long,  low  passage.  When  I paid 
a recent  visit  to  our  Hindu  neighbors,  at  the 
end  of  this  passage  I found  a calf  tied,  and 
in  a small  court  adjoining  this  entrance 
the  mother-cow  was  secured.  Close  beside 
her,  stretched  on  a bed,  was  a man,  and  on 
the  floor  beside  him,  his  hookah.  A door 


166 


A GLIMPSE  OF  HOME- LIFE.  1 6/ 

from  the  small  court  opened  into  a larger 
court,  where  the  female  members  of  the 
family  were  assembled.  This  court  was  sur- 
rounded by  apartments  occupied  by  the 
various  members  of  the  household — low 
unattractive  rooms  with  no  light  except 
that  admitted  through  the  door  opening 
into  the  court.  In  the  shelter  of  the  ver- 
andas which  shaded  these  cell-like  rooms 
the  women  belonging  to  the  household  pass 
the  day ; the  rooms  are  used  at  night. 
They  also  serve  as  a place  of  deposit  for 
all  matters  of  value.  The  floor  of  the  court 
was  of  earth,  smooth  and  hard ; above  was 
the  clear  blue  sky.  Tall  trees  rich  in  foliage 
flung>  their  broad  shadows  on  the  court,  and 
the  rustling  of  the  leaves  in  the  soft  sum- 
mer  air  was  almost  as  musical  as  the  carol 
of  the  birds  singuncr  in  the  branches. 

“ But  where  is  the  furniture  of  the  house?” 
I am  sure  you  would  ask.  You  peer  into 
one  or  two  of  the  rooms  and  see  only  low, 
rude  beds.  On  the  ground,  in  a corner  of 
one  of  the  rooms,  is  a mat,  and  upon  this 
is  a small  pillow.  A large  chest  fastened 
with  a curious  lock  occupies  another  corner, 


1 68  BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 

and  near  the  door  are  a few  brass  vessels, 
some  of  which  are  really  graceful  in  shape. 

On  a low  bed  is  stretched  the  mother  of 
the  family  suffering  from  fever,  and  on  the 
floor,  within  reach  of  her  outstretched  hands, 
is  a hookah. 

Quite  near  the  place  where  the  mother 
lies  is  a small  room  gay  with  paint  and  tin- 
sel. A lamp  is  burning  there,  and  before 
the  entrance  harms  a faded  curtain.  An  old 

o 

man  enters  and  draws  down  the  curtain, 
and  soon  from  the  place  proceeds  a low, 
monotonous  chant.  This  little  room  is 
sacred  to  the  idol  worshiped  by  the  house- 
hold, and  the  gray  old  man  is  the  family 
priest.  No  one  notices  him  ; alone  he  per- 
forms his  devotions,  and  then  silently  re- 
tires. 

Close  beside  the  little  room  devoted  to 
the  idol  is  a low  sheltered  place  in  which 
are  placed  several  large  brass  vessels  filled 
with  water ; here  the  women  of  the  house- 
hold bathe.  Hung  under  the  verandas  are 
two  or  three  cages,  each  containing  a light- 
green  parrot.  In  one  part  of  the  court- 
yard a servant  is  busy  scouring  the  brass 


A GLIMPSE  OF  HOME-LIFE.  1 69 

vessels  that  have  been  used  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  food,  and  from  which  the  food  has 
been  eaten.  In  a corner,  under  one  of  the 
verandas,  is  the  mill  by  which  is  ground  all 
the  “corn”  consumed  by  the  family.  In 
India  the  grinding  of  the  corn  is  a part  of 
the  daily  task  in  every  household ; and  this 
was  doubtless  the  custom  in  Bible-times,  for 
in  Deuteronomy  we  find  this  injunction : 
“ No  man  shall  take  the  upper  or  the  nether 
millstone  to  pledge,  for  he  taketh  a man’s 
life  to  pledge.”  On  the  ground,  beside  the 
mill,  are  two  or  three  finely-woven  baskets 
in  which  to  put  the  meal  as  it  is  ground. 
There  are  also  wooden  bowls  or  troughs 
for  kneading  the  dough.  Spread  out  on  a 
bed  in  the  sunshine  is  a quantity  of  pulse, 
which  forms  an  article  of  food  among  the 
people  of  all  classes.  Scattered  about  on 
the  verandas  are  mats  made  of  coarse 
grass  ; on  these  the  women  sit.  In  niches 
in  the  walls  are  little  vessels  of  clay  filled 
with  oil ; these  are  the  lamps  in  use.  Some 
of  these  little  vessels  are  placed  in  sockets 
on  a light  standard  which  can  be  carried 
wherever  a light  is  required. 


i ;o 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


What  a cheerless  home ! There  is  no 
gathering  of  the  family  at  meals,  so  a table 
is  not  required.  Food  is  prepared  by  serv- 
ants or  by  the  female  members  of  the 
household ; and  when  the  father,  brothers 
and  sons  have  satisfied  their  hunger — which 
they  do  sitting  on  the  ground  and  eating 
with  their  fingers  from  the  brass  vessel  or 
vessels  in  which  the  food  is  served — the 
women  of  the  household  may  partake. 

“ But  this  is  a very  poor  family,”  you  will 
say.  By  no  means.  It  is  a family  of  good 
position  and  of  abundant  means.  The 
young  bride  of  one  of  the  sons  of  the  great 
household  was  recently  brought  to  the  home 
of  her  husband,  and  she  came  laden  with 
jewels ; jewels  flashed  from  her  neck, 
sparkled  in  her  hair  and  glittered  on  her 
brow.  There  was  a large  ring  in  her  nose. 
The  ornaments  in  her  ears  were  so  heavy 
that  they  were  supported  by  chains  of  gold, 
which  were  fastened  in  her  hair.  Her  arms 
were  laden  with  bracelets  ; heavy  bands  of 
silver  encircled  her  ankles,  and  the  rings  on 
her  toes  were  like  little  bells  and  made  a 
tinkling  sound  as  she  moved.  Her  dress 


A GLIMPSE  OF  HOME  LIFE.  IJ\ 

was  of  gay  silk  embroidered  with  gold.  In 
honor  of  the  occasion  the  female  members 
of  the  household  were  all  richly  dressed 
and  adorned  with  jewels.  The  bridegroom 
was  the  mother’s  favorite  son,  and  she 
seemed  very  proud  of  the  bride  he  had 
brought  home.  This  son  had  been  educat- 
ed  in  a mission  school,  and  was  glad  to 
have  his  wife  taught ; the  little  bride  was 
eager  to  learn,  and  made  commendable 
progress.  Two  or  three  of  the  sisters,  en- 
couraged by  her  example,  desired  also  to 
learn,  and  thus  several  very  promising 
pupils  were  secured. 

A DINNER-PARTY  IN  INDIA. 

The  guests  are  all  men.  They  have  not 
met  in  a large,  pleasant  room  handsomely 
furnished,  but  in  an  open  court,  with  only 
the  cloudless,  starry  sky  above  them.  They 
are  not  clad  in  well-fittinof  suits  of  black, 
but  in  garments  of  curious  shape  and  of 
divers  colors.  The  feet  of  the  assembled 
guests  are  all  bare,  and  at  the  entrance  is  an 
odd  collection  of  shoes  ; for  each  guest,  be- 
fore entering,  has  laid  his  aside.  Some  of 


172 


BITS  ABOUT  LYDIA. 


the  shoes  are  coarse  and  strono-,  others  are 
elaborately  embroidered,  but  all  are  finished 
at  the  toe  by  a point  which  turns  up  over 
the  shoe.  As  these  shoes  are  low  and 
loose,  they  are  easily  removed. 

When  the  feast  is  ready  to  be  served, 
each  guest  bathes  his  face,  hands  and  feet 
with  water  from  large  jars  at  hand  for  the 
purpose.  After  bathing,  the  guests  seat 
themselves  upon  the  ground  in  a line,  or  in 
a circle  if  there  are  many,  leaving  a space 
open  where  servants  may  pass  in  and  out. 
There  are  neither  chairs,  tables,  dishes, 
knives,  forks  nor  spoons,  but  by  the  side-of 
many  of  the  guests  are  brass  drinking-ves- 
sels, clean  and  bright.  These  they  have 
brought  with  them  from  their  own  homes,  but 
it  is  not  customary  to  bring  to  a feast  the 
large  brass  plates  from  which  food  is  usually 
eaten,  nor  is  it  expected  that  the  host  will 
provide  them.  He  furnishes,  however,  a 
substitute — plates  made  of  smooth,  strong 
leaves  joined  together  by  thorns  or  pins  of 
stiff  straw.  When  the  guests  are  in  their 
places,  a servant  passes  around  and  deposits 
before  each  guest  one  of  these  leaf-plates. 


A GLIMPSE  OF  HO  ME- LIFE. 


W 3 


For  those  who  have  not  brought  their  own 
drinking-vessels  little  cups  fresh  from  the 
potter  are  supplied.  These  are  very  cheap, 
several  being  sold  for  a penny. 

At  every  entertainment  among  the  peo- 
ple of  India  rice  in  some  form  is  used. 
Cakes  fried  in  ghi,  or  clarified  butter,  usu- 
ally form  a part  of  the  repast ; sweetmeats 
and  curdled  milk  are  also  frequently  fur- 
nished. Each  person  conveys  the  food  to 
his  mouth  with  his  right  hand,  for  this  is  the 
custom  among  rich  and  poor  alike.  When 
the  feast  is  over,  each  guest  washes  his 
hands  and  rinses  his  mouth.  A man  of  the 
lowest  caste  then  gathers  up  and  throws 
away  the  leaf-plates.  The  little  cups  of 
pottery,  if  any  have  been  used,  are  thrown 
away. 

If  women  are  invited  to  a public  feast, 
they  are  the  near  relatives  of  the  family, 
and  they  sit  in  the  inner  apartments  with 
the  women  of  the  household,  and  are  served 
there. 

A Hindu  likes  to  invite  his  friends  to  a 
feast  when  there  is  a birth  in  his  household, 
but  he  must  make  a feast  when  a marriage 


>74 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


takes  place  or  when  a death  occurs:  failing 

to  do  this,  he  would  be  put  out  of  caste, 

and  to  a Hindu  this  is  the  Greatest  of  all 

<_> 

misfortunes.  To  avoid  such  a calamity  he 
will  borrow  the  means  with  which  to  enter- 
tain his  friends,  though  he  knows  not  how 
the  debt  can  ever  be  repaid. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

CHILD-  WIVES. 

IRLS  in  India  are  betrothed  when 


they  are  mere  children — sometimes 
even  while  they  are  infants.  They  usually 
remain  with  their  mothers  until  they  are 
twelve  or  thirteen  years  of  age,  when  they 
are  thrust  out  of  the  home-nest  to  begin 
life  in  a new  home. 

We  had  not  been  long  in  India  when 
we  received  an  invitation  to  be  present 
at  the  festivities  connected  with  the  mar- 
riage of  the  young  daughter  of  a rich 
native  banker.  We  were  not  asked  to  be 
present  at  the  wedding-ceremony,  but  to 
meet  a company  of  guests  in  a large  and 
pleasant  house  in  the  midst  of  a garden 
where  our  host  received  his  European 
friends  on  festive  occasions. 

Leaving  home  a little  earlier  than  the 


ira 


1 76  BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 

time  indicated  in  the  note  of  invitation,  we 
soon  came  upon  a great  procession,  men, 
women  and  children,  on  their  way  to  the 
house  of  the  bride.  All  were  arrayed  in 
festive  attire  and,  in  accordance  with  Orien- 
tal taste,  in  gorgeous  colors.  Mingling 
with  the  throng  were  great  numbers  of 
servants  bearing  upon  their  heads,  in  shal- 
low brass  trays,  sweetmeats  and  other 
delicacies  for  the  feast.  Elephants  covered 
with  richly-embroidered  cloths  were  in  the 
procession ; camels,  too,  were  there,  em- 
broidered trappings  thrown  over  their  lank 
sides. 

Upon  our  arrival  at  the  house  a very 
imposing  personage  in  dress  of  spotless 
white  ushered  us  into  the  apartment  where 
the  guests  were  assembled.  The  fierce 
heat  of  an  April  day  made  particularly 
grateful  the  delicious  coolness  of  the  apart- 
ment, rendered  thus  pleasant  by  artificial 
means.  Rich  chandeliers  were  suspended 
from  the  ceiling;  the  floor  was  covered 
with  fine  matting,  and  the  room  was  fur- 
nished  with  comfortable  couches.  Outside 
a well-trained  European  band  was  playing, 


CHILD - WIVES. 


1 77 


but  above  all  rose  the  hum  of  the  happy, 
excited  multitude. 

The  doors  opening  on  the  street  were 
thrown  open  as  the  announcement  was 
made  that  the  procession  had  arrived  on  its 
way  to  the  house  of  the  bride.  First  came 
a band  of  musicians,  then  a company  of 
boys  bearing  gay  pennants;  the  richly-ca- 
parisoned horses  followed,  then  the  fine  ele- 
phants and  the  solemn  camels.  Then  came 
other  bands  of  music,  followed  by  four 
litters  filled  with  dancincr-o-irls,  and  behind 
these  the  throng  of  servants  bearing  trays 
upon  their  heads. 

As  we  watched  the  gay  procession  a fine 
barouche  drawn  by  spirited  horses  halted 
before  one  of  the  entrances,  and  the  bride- 
groom sprang  upon  the  pavement.  A 
moment  later,  and  the  boy-bridegroom — 
for  he  was  but  seventeen  years  of  age — 
was  ushered  into  the  hall ; passing  through 
the  throng  of  guests  to  a seat  by  one  of 
the  open  doors,  he  pleasantly  saluted  those 
near  him.  He  was  richly  dressed.  A long, 
loose  garment  of  cloth  of  gold  studded 
with  pearls  completely  enveloped  his  figure. 

12 


178 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


He  wore  a turban  of  the  same  material 
ornamented  with  jewels.  His  face,  other- 
wise pleasant  in  expression,  was  marred  by 
the  idolatrous  marks  upon  it.  He  remained 
a short  time,  then  stepped  into  his  carriage 
and  was  rapidly  whirled  away.  The  little 
bride,  of  course,  we  did  not  see.  For  the 
European  guests  the  entertainment  closed 
with  a display  of  fireworks,  but  at  the  home 
of  the  bride  the  feasting  and  the  cere- 
monies  connected  with  such  an  occasion 
continued  for  several  days,  and  were  very 
elaborate. 

Not  long  since,  we  were  living  in  tents 
in  the  district.  One  day  we  heard  a great 
noise  outside,  and,  looking  out  of  the  tent 
door,  we  saw  a wedding-procession  passing 
alonQf  the  road.  There  was  a band  of 
musicians,  and  in  a litter  covered  with  a 
gay  canopy  was  the  boy-bridegroom.  The 
procession  halted  for  several  hours  in  a 
grove,  and  just  at  nightfall  the  bride  and 
groom,  accompanied  by  a party  of  friends, 
came  over  to  a shrine  quite  near  our  en- 
campment to  present  their  offerings.  The 
bride  was  a child  six  or  seven  years  of  age, 


CHILD-  WIVES. 


179 


and  the  bridegroom  a boy  of  about  the 
same  age.  Their  upper  garments  were 
tied  together  by  a knot,  and,  while  the 
young  child-groom  was  carried  in  the  arms 
of  one  of  the  women,  the  bride  was  led  by 
the  hand. 

On  another  occasion  while  living  in  tents 
we  saw  a wedding-procession  leaving  a 
house.  In  one  of  the  litters  was  the  bride, 
a little  girl  about  six  years  of  age.  Poor 
little  infant!  She  seemed  greatly  fright- 
ened to  see  so  many  people  about  her, 
apparently  not  understanding  the  meaning 
of  the  strange  ceremonies  that  were  being 
performed.  As  she  was  being  borne  along 
some  toys  were  put  into  her  lap  to  amuse 
her. 

In  one  of  the  villages  where  we  made 
our  encampment  when  on  a tour  in  the 
district  lived  a rajah  with  a fair  little  daugh- 
ter about  twelve  years  of  age  who  had 
several  years  before  been  betrothed  to  the 
son  of  a rajah  living  in  another  part  of 
India.  While  we  were  encamped  in  the 
village  the  young  rajah  came  to  bear  away 
his  bride.  For  several  weeks  extensive 


i8o 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


preparations  had  been  in  progress  for  the 
important  event.  A village  of  tents  had 
sprung  into  existence  upon  the  plain,  and 
to  add  to  the  pomp  of  the  occasion  ele- 
phants, camels  and  horses  had  been  arriv- 
ing from  all  directions.  Great  quantities 
of  provisions  had  been  laid  in  store,  for 
hundreds  of  guests  were  expected,  and  the 
wedding-festivities  would  continue  for  three 
days. 

At  the  appointed  time,  accompanied  by 
a large  party  of  friends  and  a small  army 
of  retainers,  the  groom  arrived  by  special 
train.  With  much  ceremony  he  was  es- 
corted to  the  encampment  prepared  for  his 
reception,  a band  of  music  in  attendance 
meanwhile  discoursing  lively  airs  for  the 
entertainment  of  the  people.  The  guests 
now  came  pouring  in  from  all  directions, 
and  as  if  by  magic  tents  shot  up  wherever 
there  was  a bit  of  level  ground.  Crim- 
son and  orange  banners  floated  in  the 
breeze  and  crowds  of  people  in  holiday 
attire  loitered  about,  while  in  every  di- 
rection were  seen  elephants,  camels  and 
horses. 


CHILD-  WIVES. 


1 8 1 


Just  before  the  going  down  of  the  sun 
we  went  out  to  view  the  brilliant  scene — 
the  throngs  of  happy  people,  the  elephants 
in  glittering  howdahs  and  rich  saddle-cloths, 
the  camels  in  gay  trappings  and  the  pran- 
cing horses  in  fantastic  livery.  Sudden- 
ly, as  if  in  obedience  to  the  wand  of  an 
enchanter,  the  moving  mass  fell  into  line ; 
the  whole,  arranged  with  wonderful  effect 
and  lighted  by  the  rays  of  the  setting  sun, 
formed  a gorgeous  pageant,  a show  of 
barbaric  splendor  such  as  one  seldom 
sees  even  in  the  Orient.  The  groom  was 
about  to  pay  his  first  visit  of  ceremony  to 
the  house  of  the  bride.  As  he  advanced 
with  his  glittering  train  a company  mounted 
on  elephants,  camels  and  horses,  all  richly 
caparisoned,  came  out  to  meet  the  bride- 
groom and  to  escort  him  to  the  home  of 
the  bride.  The  scene  was  one  of  great 
splendor  and  magnificence. 

At  the  time  of  this  visit  the  groom  re- 
ceived the  first  instalment  of  presents — the 
bride’s  dowry — and  at  each  succeeding 
visit  gifts  would  be  bestowed.  In  this  in- 
stance the  gifts  consisted  of  gold  coin, 


182 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


elephants,  camels  and  horses.  The  Brah- 
man priests  in  attendance  were  well  re- 
membered, receiving  one  hundred  cows 
and  one  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  as  well 
as  liberal  supplies  of  food. 

The  procession  returned  to  the  camp 
after  nightfall,  lighted  torches  throwing  a 
weird  brightness  over  the  scene  and  a band 
of  music  playing  lively  airs.  At  the  con- 
clusion of  the  ceremonies,  the  feasting  and 
the  festivities  the  bride  was  borne  away  to 
the  home  of  her  husband. 

Poor  little  child-wife  ! Thrust  out  of  her 
home  and  away  from  the  mother-love  that 
has  been  around  her  from  her  infancy — 
thrust  out  into  a world  of  which  she  has 
had  hardly  a glimpse — is  she  not  to  be 
pitied  ? 

“ She  will  not  be  able  to  come  back  to  us 
for  a long  time,”  the  father  said,  “ the  dis- 
tance is  so  great  and  the  expense  incident 
upon  the  journey  so  considerable.” 

Perhaps  the  young  girl  will  be  kindly 
treated  in  her  new  home.  We  trust  so, 
but  it  is  very  sad  to  see  a mere  child  made 
a wife.  This  is  one  of  the  cruel  and  unrea- 


CHILD-  WIVES. 


183 


sonable  customs  of  India,  and  it  is  only  as 
the  people  learn  and  receive  into  their 
hearts  the  truths  of  a religion  purer  than 
their  own — even  the  truths  of  the  gospel — 
that  they  will  abandon  this  along  with  many 
other  wrong  and  foolish  practices.  Mar- 
riage is  a very  sacred  ordinance,  but  such 
marriages  as  these  are  very  sad. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  BOYS  OF  INDIA. 

THE  boys  of  India  are  as  merry  and  as 
fond  of  play  as  are  the  boys  of  Amer- 
ica or  of  England.  We  often  hear  their 

o 

shouts  of  laughter  as  they  pass  along  the 
street.  At  one  season  of  the  year  every 
boy  has  his  kite,  and  wherever  there  is  a 
bit  of  open  space,  there  we  are  sure  to  see 
a group  of  boys  Hying  kites — large  boys 
as  well  as  small  ones.  When  the  weather 
has  become  so  warm  that  kite-flying  is  no 
longer  pleasant,  we  see  from  almost  every 
tree  near  a village  a swing  suspended,  and 
it  is  seldom  empty. 

But  not  all  the  children  of  India  are  free 
to  play ; the  children  of  very  poor  people 
are  obliged  to  work  as  soon  as  they  are 
old  enough  to  do  anything. 

134 


THE  BOYS  OF  INDIA. 


185 


Once,  after  a very  heavy  rain,  a part  of 
the  wall  around  our  “ compound  ” fell  down. 
When  this  wall  was  rebuilt,  women  and 
children  were  employed  to  help  in  the  work. 
They  came,  a great  number,  each  provided 
with  a basket.  For  each  basketful  of  earth 
carried  a certain  number  of  little  shells  was 
given.  It  takes  a great  quantity  of  these 
shells  to  make  a penny,  but  they  are  the 
currency  used  by  the  poor  in  making  their 
small  purchases. 

Some  time  ago  I visited  a garden  in  which 
were  several  pavilions.  The  roof  of  one 
of  these  was  in  process  of  repair,  and  boys 
were  bringing  baskets  of  earth  from  a bank 
near  at  hand  to  spread  upon  the  roof.  I 
noticed  that  one  quite  small  boy  was  crying 
as  he  carried  his  load. 

“What  is  the  matter?”  I asked. 

The  boy  made  no  answer;  and  when  I 
turned,  I saw  standing  not  far  off  a man 
with  a whip  in  his  hand. 

“Have  you  beaten  that  little  boy?”  I 
asked. 

“Yes,”  he  answered.  “Boys  are  lazy; 
and  when  they  do  not  work  well,  I beat 


1 86 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


them.  I must  do  this,  or  nothing  would  be 
done.” 

I looked  again  at  the  boy.  He  was  small 
and  did  not  seem  strong,  and  1 saw  that  it 
was  very  hard  for  him  to  climb  the  long 
ladder  with  his  heavy  load. 

We  see  boys  in  the  city  every  day  carry- 
ing boxes  on  their  heads  : they  are  the  serv- 
ants of  natives  who  keep  a little  stock  of 
thread,  needles,  buttons,  soap,  and  many 
other  such  things.  They  do  not  keep  these 
articles  in  a neat  shop,  but  in  a box  in 
some  corner  of  their  little  homes.  Every 
day  they  visit  the  houses  of  Europeans  in 
the  vicinity,  and,  opening  their  boxes,  dis- 
play their  goods,  hoping  to  find  customers. 
I have  sometimes  seen  a tall,  strong  man 
walking  along,  and  behind  him  a boy  stag- 
gering under  the  weight  of  the  box  he  car- 
ried for  his  master. 

We  frequently  see  boy-merchants.  Some 
of  these  boys  are  the  sons  of  small  dealers, 
and  their  fathers,  in  order  to  teach  them  to 
be  shrewd  in  trade,  send  them  alone,  when 
quite  young,  to  sell  their  wares.  These 
boy-merchants,  if  poor,  carry  their  own 


THE  BOYS  OF  INDIA. 


87 


boxes,  but  as  soon  as  they  can  afford  to  do 
so  they  employ  some  one  to  do  this  work 
for  them — perhaps  a boy  no  larger  than 
themselves. 

Boys  living  in  the  country  work  in  the 
gardens  or  help  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
fields.  When  fruit  is  ripening,  they  are 
employed  to  watch  the  trees  and  frighten 
away  the  birds. 

But  perhaps  some  one  will  ask,  “ Do  the 
boys  in  India  never  attend  school  ?”  Cer- 
tainly they  do,  and  many  of  them  learn  their 
lessons  well  and  quickly.  In  the  veranda 
of  a house  in  a narrow  lane  not  far  from 
our  bungalow  is  a boys’  school  taught  by  a 
heathen  teacher.  All  the  children  sit  on 
the  floor,  their  feet  crossed  under  them. 
Those  who  are  learning  the  alphabet  or 
easy  lessons  hold  in  their  hands  a little 
black-painted  wooden  slate  upon  which 
are  printed  the  letters  or  the  words.  Each 
boy  studies  aloud,  and  as  he  studies  rocks 
backward  and  forward.  The  older  boys 
have  books,  but  they  study  aloud  just  as  do 
the  younger  pupils.  The  teacher  sits  upon 
a mat  and  calls  his  pupils  to  him  when  he 


1 88 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


wishes  to  know  if  they  have  learned  their 
tasks. 

In  a large  school  which  I have  visited,  and 
which  is  under  the  charge  of  a missionary, 
the  boys  are  carefully  instructed  and  taught 
to  be  orderly  and  to  conduct  themselves 
with  propriety.  They  also  learn  of  the  one 
true  God  and  of  the  duty  they  owe  to 
him. 

In  this  school,  at  the  time  of  my  visit, 
were  several  boys  belonging  to  the  family 
of  a nobleman.  These  boys  all  wore  very 
tine  clothing.  Their  caps  were  of  velvet 
and  silk  embroidered  with  gold  and  silver; 
their  long,  loose  robes  were  of  rich  material 
handsomely  trimmed.  In  the  same  classes 
with  these  elegantly-attired  young  gentle- 
men were  boys  belonging  to  poor  families 
and  wearing  not  only  plain,  but  scanty, 
clothing-. 

One  day,  sitting  in  the  house  of  a Hindu, 
I was  trying  to  instruct  a group  of  women 
gathered  about  me.  While  I was  thus  oc- 
cupied several  men  stopped  before  the  door 
and  began  to  sing.  Two  or  three  of  the 
women  immediately  rose  and  went  to  an- 


THE  BOYS  OF  INDIA. 


189 


other  part  of  the  house.  They  soon  re- 
turned, each  woman  bringing  with  her  a 
small  quantity  of  grain,  which  she  threw  into 
the  vessels  with  which  the  singers  were  pro- 
vided. When  they  joined  the  listening  group 
again,  one  of  the  women  said  in  explanation, 
“These  are  the  priests  of  our  gods,  and 
they  were  singing  the  praises  of  the  gods 
they  serve.  If  we  feed  them,  our  gods  will 
be  pleased.” 

On  a low  stool,  listening  to  the  reading, 
sat  a brother  of  one  of  the  women. 

“ It  is  not  true  that  the  gods  will  be 
pleased,”  said  this  youth,  “for  there  is  but 
one  God,  and  he  has  said  that  we  must  not 
worship  the  images  which  our  own  hands 
have  made,  for  they  are  no  gods.” 

“Where  have  you  learned  this?”  I 
asked. 

“ At  school,”  he  answered ; “ there  I 

learned  about  God  and  about  his  Son  Jesus 
Christ,  who  died  to  save  us.” 

Sometimes  the  teachers,  on  going  to  the 
school,  find  the  rooms  almost  empty,  and 
the  pupils  who  are  present  ask  if  they  too 
may  be  excused.  It  is  a heathen  holiday, 


19O  BITS  ABOUT  IXDIA. 

and  on  such  occasions  men,  women  and 
children  repair  to  the  river,  the  spring,  the 
grove  or  the  temple  to  present  their  offer- 
ings and  to  worship. 

A favorite  deity  is  Ganesh,  the  god  of 
wisdom  and  policy,  a monster  with  four 
arms  and  the  head  of  an  elephant.  This 
god  is  invoked  by  the  Hindus  in  all  mat- 
ters of  business,  and  especially  in  all  new 
undertakings.  His  image  is  frequently 
placed  over  the  doors  of  houses  and  shops 
to  insure  success  in  business.  Upon  the 
first  leaf  of  the  schoolbooks  belonmncr  to  a 

o a 

Hindu  youth  is  inscribed  a short  prayer  to 
Ganesh ; in  a niche  in  the  wall  in  every 
school  in  a Hindu  village  is  usually  found 
a small  ima^e  of  Ganesh.  A missionary 
tells  us  that  he  once  found  a Brahman  lad, 
a pupil  in  one  of  his  schools,  crying  bitterly. 
He  had  quarreled  with  a schoolfellow,  who 
in  anger  had  threatened  to  present  an  offer- 
ing to  Ganesh  to  induce  this  god  to  make 
him  fail  in  his  recitations  and  fall  below 
him  in  his  class ; and  this  was  the  cause 
of  the  little  fellow’s  distress. 

The  children  in  India — and,  I suppose,  in 


GANESH,  THE  GOD  OF  WISDOM. 


192 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


every  heathen  land — are  taught  to  speak 
what  is  not  true.  They  hear  their  parents 
and  others  around  them  gravely  speaking 
what  is  false  whenever  they  think  it  will  be 
for  their  advantage  to  do  so,  either  to  hide 
a fault  or  to  secure  a favor. 

A little  boy  received  a present  of  a book. 
One  of  his  companions  offered  to  give  him 
a small  price  for  it,  and  the  book  speedily 
changed  owners.  The  original  possessor 
did  not  intend,  however,  to  do  without  a 
book.  Going  with  a very  sad  face  to  the 
friend  from  whom  he  had  received  the 
one  he  had  sold,  he  told  him  that  on  his 
way  to  school,  as  he  was  running  along,  he 
slipped  near  the  edge  of  a tank,  and  his 
book,  escaping  from  his  hand,  tumbled  into 
the  water  and  was  ruined.  He  seemed  really 
sorry,  and  said  he  had  no  money  with  which 
to  buy  another  ; so  his  kind  friend  gave  him 
a second  book,  and  the  boy  hastened  home 
to  tell  his  parents  and  his  playmates  how 
cleverly  he  had  managed. 

A lady  who  felt  an  interest  in  the  chil- 
dren of  her  servants  asked  one  of  them 
who  was  the  mother  of  a bright  little  boy  to 


THE  BOYS  OF  INDIA. 


193 


send  her  son  every  day  that  he  might  be 
instructed  with  some  other  boys  who  came 
for  a lesson.  But  the  boy  had  always  spent 
his  time  in  play,  and  did  not  care  to  learn. 
His  mother,  afraid  of  displeasing  her  mis- 
tress, tried  by  promises  and  threats  to  in- 
duce her  son  to  obey  her,  but,  knowing  by 
experience  that  his  mother  would  neither 
give  what  she  had  promised  nor  punish  as 
she  had  threatened,  the  young  rebel  refused 
to  obey.  The  mother,  therefore,  each  day 
presented  herself  before  her  mistress  with 
a fresh  excuse.  One  day  her  son  had  no 
clean  clothing  in  which  he  could  appear  ; 
another  day,  his  head  was  aching ; a third 
day,  his  eyes  were  sore ; again,  he  had 
sprained  his  ankle.  At  length,  feeling  sure 
that  these  were  but  excuses,  the  lady  insisted 
upon  knowing  the  true  reason.  The  moth- 
er then  acknowledged  that  her  son  would 
not  obey  her. 

While  spending  a season  in  Kashmir  we 
were  one  day  making  an  excursion  upon 
the  great  river  Jhilum.  As  our  boat  landed 
at  a little  town  along  our  route  a boy- mer- 
chant leaped  on  board  ; the  bundle  slung 

13 


194 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


over  his  shoulder  contained  his  stock  in 
trade.  His  small  store  was  soon  spread 
out  before  us,  and  from  it  we  selected  such 
things  as  we  required,  and  paid  the  stipu- 
lated price.  The  little  merchant  then  pre- 
sented a book,  saying, 

“ Please  write  something  in  this.  Say 
that  you  have  purchased  these  articles  from 
me,  and  that  they  are  good  in  quality. 
This  will  help  me  in  getting  other  custom- 

y) 

ers. 

Pleased  with  the  shrewd  young  merchant, 
we  cheerfully  complied  with  his  request, 
his  bright  eyes  following  us  as  we  wrote. 
Presently  he  asked, 

“ Are  you  putting  down  the  price  you 
have  given  me  ?” 

“Yes,”  was  answered. 

With  a quick,  impatient  gesture  he  ex- 
claimed, 

“ Don’t  write  the  true  price,  but  this,” 
namingr  a much  larger  sum  than  he  had 
received. 

“ We  cannot  do  that,  for  it  would  not  be 
true,”  we  answered,  looking  straight  into 
the  eyes  of  the  boy,  who  did  not  in  the 


196 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


least  mind  the  grave  looks  which  were 
bent  upon  him,  but  in  a perfectly-possessed 
manner  said, 

“ That  does  not  matter.  Strangers,  when 
they  wish  to  buy,  look  into  this  book  to  see 
who  has  purchased  and  what  amount  has 
been  paid.  They  think  the  amount  written 
is,  of  course,  the  proper  price,  and  so  I 
make  more  money  than  if  the  true  price 
had  been  written.  Do  you  not  under- 
stand ?”  he  asked,  as  if  wondering  that  any 
one  could  be  so  stupid. 

“We  certainly  shall  write  the  true  price,” 
was  answered. 

“Then  do  not  write  the  true  number  of 
articles,”  he  pleaded. 

At  this  some  of  the  boatmen  laughed 
and  said, 

“ That  is  a shrewd  lad,  and  will  make  his 
way  in  the  world.” 

All  this  time  we  had  been  gliding  down 
the  stream  and  the  boy  drifting  away  from 
his  home.  Presently  a boat  that  was  passing 
up  the  river  drew  near.  Quickly  the  boy 
Slathered  into  a bundle  his  stock  of  mer- 
chandise,  and,  calling  to  the  boatmen,  en- 


THE  BOYS  OF  INDIA. 


l97 


gaged  them  to  leave  him  at  his  home. 
Turning  toward  us  with  a graceful  salaam, 
he  leaped  into  the  boat  with  a light  step, 
but  in  doing  so  his  snow-white  turban  fell 
into  the  water.  Seizing  it  quickly,  he  shook 
the  water  from  its  folds,  and,  calling  back 
to  us  in  a cheery  voice  that  it  was  a matter 
of  no  consequence,  his  bright  face  was 
soon  lost  to  sight. 

At  one  time,  when  on  an  itineration  in 
the  district,  a house  belonging  to  a petty 
rajah  was  kindly  placed  at  our  disposal 
while  we  remained  in  his  village.  This 
rajah  had  a grandson  about  six  years  of 
age,  and  not  long  after  our  arrival  this 
little  boy  came  over  to  our  bungalow.  He 
was  riding  a small  pony,  and  was  attended  by 
several  servants.  He  dismounted  and  with- 
out the  slightest  embarrassment  entered  the 
house,  and,  standing  before  me,  made  a low 
and  very  graceful  salaam. 

“Where  is  the  gentleman?”  he  then 
asked. 

“ He  is  not  at  home,”  was  answered. 

“Then  I will  not  stop  now,  but  will  come 
again  when  he  is  at  home,”  he  replied,  and, 


1 98  BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 

making  another  salaam,  turned  away,  the 
train  of  men,  boys  and  dogs  following. 

I was  greatly  amused  at  the  gravity  of 
this  small  man.  He  came  attain  a short 

o 

time  after,  accompanied  by  the  rajah  his 
grandfather.  This  time,  finding  the  “gen- 
tleman ” at  home,  he  condescended  to  be 
entertained.  He  was  dressed  in  closely- 
fitting  undergarments  and  a handsomely- 
embroidered  tunic.  He  wore  on  his  head 
a gold-embroidered  cap,  while  ornaments 
encircled  his  delicate  wrists,  and  also  his 
ankles.  How  pretty  he  was ! and  how 
graceful  every  movement!  Many  quaint 
observations  the  little  fellow  made,  and 
many  curious ’questions  he  asked.  When 
tired  of  the  talk  of  grown-up  people,  he 
wandered  outside  to  find  entertainment 
among  the  servants,  issuing  his  commands 
as  gravely  as  his  grandfather  would  have 
done,  and  the  servants  obeyed  this  small 
rajah  without  questioning. 

While  we  remained  in  the  village  we  saw 
this  little  boy  several  times.  He  was  al- 
ways handsomely  dressed,  and  was  usually 
riding  a pretty  pony  and  accompanied  by  sev- 


THE  BOYS  OF  INDIA. 


199 


eral  attendants.  He  was  a most  engaging 
little  fellow,  but  he  was  the  child  of  heathen 
parents.  He  was  surrounded  by  heathen, 
and,  though  so  young,  he  was  taught  to  bow 
down  to  idols  and  to  bring  to  those  dumb 
images  his  offerings. 

How  blest  are  the  dear  children  in  Chris- 
tian homes  ! Thank  God  for  all  his  good 
gifts  to  you,  and  remember  those  who  are 
not  thus  blessed. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

CHRISTMAS  IN  INDIA. 

QUITE  near  the  house  which  we  for 
several  years  occupied  lived  a lady  in 
a beautiful  home.  Three  lovely  chil- 
dren made  music  and  sunshine  in  that  happy 
home.  To  these  favored  children  the  glad 
Christmas-time  was  sure  to  bring-  much 
good  cheer,  but  the  grateful  mother  re- 
membered also  the  little  ones  about  her  to 
whom  Christmas  would  bring  only  eager 
longings.  For  weeks  before  the  holidays 
this  excellent  Christian  lady  was  occupied 
in  preparing  a Christmas  treat  for  the  poor 
children  of  the  neighborhood.  Not  only 
was  a great  store  of  toys  provided,  but  the 
lady’s  busy  fingers  and  fine  taste  fashioned 
many  beautiful  and  useful  articles. 

The  day  so  anxiously  waited  for  came  at 
length,  and  at  the  appointed  hour  a company 
200 


CHRISTMAS  IN  INDIA. 


201 


of  very  happy  little  people  assembled  in  the 
large  and  pleasant  grounds,  and  from  the 
kind  hostess  each  timid  little  one  received  a 
cordial  welcome.  Christmas-time  in  India  is 
not  ushered  in  by  biting  winds  and  leaden 
skies : it  comes  decked  with  flowers.  The 
trees  are  heavy  with  foliage,  the  skies  are 
blue  and  the  sun  shines  with  so  fierce  a 
heat  that  the  shade  is  welcome.  On  the 
broad  verandas  of  the  dwelling  refresh- 
ments were  served  to  the  children  and 
young  people,  who  laughed  and  chat- 
ted and  heartily  enjoyed  the  good  things 
provided  for  them. 

When  the  shadows  began  to  lengthen, 
the  children  were  summoned  to  a large  tent 
in  the  midst  of  the  grounds.  The  curtains 
were  lifted,  and  a scene  of  wondrous  beauty 
burst  upon  the  vision.  The  great  Christ- 
mas tree  was  a blaze  of  light,  and  suspend- 
ed from  its  branches  and  nestling  beneath 
its  shadows  were  so  many  lovely  things  that 
exclamations  of  delight  burst  from  the  lips 
of  many  of  the  children.  When  the  richly- 
fruited  tree  had  been  sufficiently  admired, 
loving  hands  released  the  pretty  gifts  and 


202 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


sent  them  among  the  waiting  guests.  How 
eagerly  each  child  stepped  forward  as  his 
or  her  name  was  pronounced ! while  joy 
lighted  each  face  and  sparkled  from  every 
eye.  At  last  the  tree  stood  bare.  The 
wax  tapers  were  burning  low,  but  the  chil- 
dren lingered  as  if  the  place  still  held  a 
charm  for  them.  Some  were  proudly  dis- 
playing their  gifts  to  their  companions ; 
others  pressed  tightly  in  their  arms  their 
new  treasures,  as  if  fearing  they  would  slip 
from  their  grasp. 

In  the  midst  of  the  happy  children  stood 
a little  girl  poorly  clad  ; she  had  come  from 
a home  of  want,  and  her  child-life  had  been 
brightened  by  few  of  the  pleasures  that 
belong  to  happy  homes.  The  little  girl 
held  in  her  arms  a large  and  beautiful  doll 
handsomely  dressed,  but  the  child  held  her 
treasure  loosely,  and  there  was  no  light  in 
her  eyes  and  no  smile  on  her  face.  Turn- 
ing to  a lady  standing  near  her,  she  said  in 
a disappointed  tone, 

“And  I got  only  this  doll  and  a bag  of 

sweets !” 

Poor  child  ! she  had  seen  the  tree  laden 


CHRISTMAS  IN  INDIA. 


203 


with  gifts,  and,  forgetting  how  large  was 
the  number  to  be  provided  for,  felt  grieved 
that  from  such  a store  so  small  a share  had 
fallen  to  her  lot. 

Another  Christmas  which  it  is  pleasant 
to  remember  was  spent  with  missionary- 
friends  in  a distant  station.  These  friends 
labor  among  the  Santhals,  one  of  the  abo- 
riginal races  of  India.  The  Santhals  are  a 
rude  people  fond  of  active  life,  and  “ mighty 
hunters,”  like  the  Indians  of  North  America. 
Though  not  quick  to  learn  like  their  shrewd- 
er neighbors  the  Hindus,  yet,  since  mission- 
aries have  been  sent  among  them,  they  have 
shown  such  capacity  for  improvement,  and 
so  many  have  turned  to  the  Lord  from  the 
grossest  heathenism,  that  there  is  great  en- 
couragement to  labor  for  them. 

Quite  near  the  dwelling  occupied  by  our 
host  was  a plain  and  substantial  building 
which  served  as  both  a church  and  a school. 
Between  this  building  and  the  bungalow  of 
the  missionary  was  a long,  low  row  of 
houses  occupied  by  the  girls  of  the  board- 
ing-school. 

Many  of  the  Christian  Santhals  lived  in 


204 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


villages  in  the  district,  but  a large  number 
came  in  to  spend  the  Christmas-time  with 
their  fellow-Christians  in  Pachamba. 

We  wakened  early  on  this  bright  Christ- 
mas morning,  but  not  before  there  was  a 
stir  outside.  We  heard  just  at  daybreak 
soft  footfalls  on  the  veranda,  and  the  mur- 
mur of  suppressed  voices.  When  we  came 
out  of  our  room,  we  learned  the  meaning 
of  all  this.  Passing  through  the  dining- 
room, we  found  it  decked  with  garlands  of 
flowers.  The  pleasant  family-parlor  was 
gay  with  similar  decorations,  and  across 
the  arches  of  the  long  verandas  festoons 
of  flowers  were  thrown. 

“The  schoolgirls  have  done  this,”  our 
hostess  said,  in  answer  to  our  questioning 
looks.  “ They  were  here  before  the  dawn, 
with  their  garlands,  waiting  for  entrance, 
that  they  might  give  the  house  a holiday 
look  before  we  appeared,  thus  furnishing  a 
pleasant  surprise  for  us.” 

It  was  beautiful  to  begin  the  day  which 
commemorates  the  coming  of  Christ,  God’s 
greatest  gift  to  man,  by  taking  such  loving 
thought  for  others. 

o 


CHRISTMAS  IN  INDIA. 


205 


In  the  morning  there  was  a service  in  the 
church  to  which  the  old  and  young,  parents 
and  children,  came  to  learn  of  Christ  and 
to  sing  his  praises.  It  was  delightful  to  see 
there  worshiping  in  the  temple  of  the  Lord 
those  who  but  a short  time  before  had  for 
the  first  time  heard  of  Jesus  the  Saviour. 
One  orphan  Santhal  youth  who  had  some 
poetical  genius  as  well  as  unusual  musical 
gifts,  assisted  by  two  or  three  of  his  com- 
panions, sang  on  this  occasion  a Christmas 
hymn  of  his  own  composition,  set  to  one 
of  their  native  airs.  The  performance  was 
by  no  means  discreditable. 

The  missionaries  had  provided  the  means 
for  a feast  for  these  Santhal  Christians,  and 
in  happy  preparation  for  this  much  of  the 
day  was  spent.  The  Santhals  have  no  such 
prejudice  against  the  use  of  beef  as  high- 
caste  Hindus  entertain,  and  as  a part  of  the 
feast  a young  cow  was  provided.  This, 
when  slaughtered,  was  cut  into  small  bits — 
no  easy  matter,  but  in  India,  as  elsewhere, 
many  hands  make  light  work,  and  this 
tedious  process,  because  so  cheerfully  per- 
formed, was  not  regarded  as  a task.  The 

o 


206 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


meat  was  made  into  curry,  of  which  the 
natives  of  India  are  very  fond.  A large 
quantity  of  rice  was  provided,  and  with  an 
abundance  of  rice  and  curry  they  were 
happy  indeed.  Trenches  were  made  in 
the  ground  for  the  fires,  and  large  vessels 
of  pottery  were  used  in  which  to  boil  the 
rice  and  stew  the  curry. 

While  the  men  and  the  boys  were  en- 
gaged in  preparing  the  meat  and  in  grind- 
ing the  spices  there  was  work  for  the  women 
and  the  mrls  as  well.  The  food  was  not 

o 

served  in  dainty  china;  our  simple  Santhals 
would  not  have  known  how  to  use  anything 
so  elegant.  A few  of  the  number  were 
the  happy  possessors  of  brass  vessels ; 
these  had  been  scoured  until  they  shone 
like  mirrors.  For  the  remainder,  and  far 
larger  part,  of  the  company,  leaf-plates  had 
been  prepared.  Large  and  tough  green 
leaves  had  been  gathered,  and  these  were 
“sewed”  or  pinned  together  with  thorns  or 
fine  bamboo  splints.  I expect  that  in  this 
very  way  Adam  and  Eve  made  their  first 
garments,  of  which  we  read  in  the  book  of 
Genesis.  These  carefully-prepared  leaf- 


CHRISTMAS  IN  INDIA. 


207 


plates  were  placed  one  within  another, 
made  into  convenient  piles  and  then  tied 
together  with  a wisp  of  straw. 

About  sunset  the  announcement  was 
made  that  all  things  were  ready,  and  the 
guests  needed  no  second  bidding  to  the 
feast  that  had  been  prepared ; they  fell 
into  line  and  marched  to  the  place  on  the 
open  plain  where  the  feast  was  to  be  served. 
The  possessors  of  brass  vessels  carried 
them  on  their  heads.  Mats  were  spread 
upon  the  ground,  and  upon  these  the  com- 
pany sat,  except  those  appointed  to  dis- 
tribute the  good  things.  The  carefully- 
prepared  rice  was  piled  into  large  baskets, 
and  looked  like  newly-fallen  snow,  while 
the  curry  sent  forth  a savory  smell.  Every- 
thing seemed  very  tempting  to  good  appe- 
tites, and  the  scene  was  certainly  very  beau- 
tiful. The  guests  appeared  very  happy  as 
they  took  their  places  on  the  mats  spread 
for  them. 

The  hum  of  joyous  voices  was  hushed 
while  one  of  the  missionaries  present  rev- 
erently asked  God’s  blessing  upon  the  food 
of  which  they  were  about  to  partake.  The 


208 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


leaf-plates  were  then  distributed,  and  those 
who  served  passed  rapidly  around  with 
baskets  of  rice  and  vessels  filled  with  the 
savory  stew.  Each  one  received  for  his 
or  her  portion  two  large  handfuls  of  rice 
and  a measure  of  curry.  The  rice  and 
the  curry  were  then  mixed  with  the  right 
hand  and  conveyed  to  the  mouth  by  the 
same  means.  I have  seen  few  happier 
companies  than  this  Christmas  gathering 
of  Santhal  Christians.  The  provision  was 
ample  and  the  food  such  as  they  enjoyed. 
If,  in  addition  to  their  rice  and  curry,  they 
had  been  served  with  curdled  milk  and  a 
liberal  supply  of  the  sweetmeats  of  the 
country,  they  would  have  esteemed  it  a 
banquet  fit  for  a king. 

Of  course  this  festival  differed  greatly 
from  the  Christmas  entertainments  our 
American  friends  are  accustomed  to  have 
in  their  Sunday-schools  ; but  for  a mission- 
ary land  it  was  very  enjoyable. 

It  was  necessary  that  we  should  leave 
Pachamba  by  the  evening  train,  and  we 
could  not,  therefore,  tarry  until  the  close 
of  the  feast.  As  we  left  the  grounds  we 


CHRISTMAS  IN  INDIA.  20g 

stopped  to  examine  a unique  Christmas 
tree.  Some  of  the  older  boys  had  brought 
from  the  forest  a tall  and  shapely  tree, 
which  they  had  made  fast  in  the  earth. 
This  was  crowned  by  a gay  paper  umbrel- 
la, which  by  an  ingenious  contrivance  they 
had  made  to  revolve.  The  treasures  sus- 
pended from  the  branches  of  this  Christmas 
tree  were  remarkable  chiefly  for  their  sim- 
plicity— small  portions  of  the  common  sweet- 
meats of  the  country,  scraps  of  gay  cloth, 
feathers  dropped  from  the  wings  of  bright- 
plumaged  birds,  and  even  some  parts  of 
the  animal  they  had  slaughtered.  They 
had  heard  of  the  Christmas  trees  with 
their  varied  fruits,  in  which  the  children  of 
other  lands  delight,  and  this  feeble  imitation 
told  its  own  pathetic  story. 

The  shadows  of  night  were  gathering  as 
we  drove  away,  and,  looking  back  to  catch 
yet  another  glimpse  of  that  scene  under 
the  starry  sky,  we  saw  the  Christmas  tree 
suddenly  flash  forth  into  brightness.  How 
they  had  lighted  that  strange  tree  I cannot 
tell  you,  but  as  we  saw  its  little  lights 
gleaming  it  seemed  to  us  a beautiful  type 

14 


210 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


of  the  light  which  the  gospel  is  shedding, 
and  will  continue  to  shed  more  and  more 
abundantly  until  that  glad  day  so  long 
foretold  shall  come  when  “ the  earth  shall 
be  filled  with  the  knowledge  of  the  glory 
of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea.” 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


A NEW  YEAR'S  DAY  IN  INDIA. 

I SHOULD  like  to  tell  you  how  we 
spent  one  New  Year’s  day  in  India. 
We  were  not  living  in  a house,  but  in  a 
tent  quite  in  the  country.  Under  some 
fine  trees  in  a grove  not  far  from  the  road- 
side our  canvas  house  had  been  set  up  a 
few  days  before  the  opening  of  the  New 
Year.  Shaded  from  the  sun  by  an  awning, 
we  sat  in  the  tent  door  on  this  first  morn- 
ing of  the  year,  enjoying  the  pure  air  and 
the  pleasant  warmth.  The  great  trees 
which  overshadowed  our  tent  were  rich  in 
foliage,  and  the  fields  around  us  were 
green.  Brown-skinned  children  were  frol- 
icking in  the  sunshine,  and  everything 
seemed  full  of  life  and  motion.  On  the 
road,  in  full  view,  long  trains  of  clumsy 
carts  with  ponderous  wooden  wheels  went 

211 


212 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


creaking  by.  They  were  drawn  by  oxen 
with  large  humps  between  their  shoulders. 
A string  of  camels  next  passed,  the  rope 
tied  to  the  ring  in  the  nose  of  one  animal 
fastened  to  the  tail  of  the  camel  directly 
in  front  of  him,  and  thus  bound  together 
they  moved  slowly  and  solemnly  along, 
two  or  three  baby-camels,  unfettered,  with 
awkward  motion  running  by  the  side  of 
the  mother-camels.  As  we  watched  them 
there  came  to  our  ears  the  low  and  not 
unmusical  sound  of  bells,  and  soon  a com- 
pany of  pilgrims  appeared.  Each  man 
carried  suspended  from  the  ends  of  a pole 
resting  upon  one  of  his  shoulders  two  bas- 
kets, each  enclosed  in  a frame  or  net  and 
containing,  perhaps,  the  ashes  of  some 
deceased  friend.  These  pilgrims  were  on 
their  way  to  the  Ganges.  There  they 
would  deposit  the  sacredly-guarded  ashes, 
bathe  in  the  venerated  stream,  worship  at 
the  various  shrines,  make  offerings  to  the 
priests,  and  then  return  to  their  distant 
homes,  carrying  with  them  vessels  filled 
with  water  from  the  sacred  river.  Scarcely 
had  these  pilgrims  passed  out  of  sight 


A NEW  YEAR'S  DAY  IN  INDIA. 


213 


when  a wedding-procession  came  into 
view.  Musicians  were  in  attendance,  and 
gay  little  banners  fluttered  in  the  breeze. 
Poorly  attired  as  were  many  of  the  people 
in  the  procession,  yet  there  was  about  them 
a holiday  look  that  it  was  pleasant  to  see. 
Amidst  the  clang  and  the  clamor  made  by 
the  musicians  a sound  greeted  our  ears 
which  reminded  us  of  merry  sleigh-bells 
in  another  land,  and  soon  a curious  little 
vehicle  passed  by.  It  was  drawn  by  a 
very  small  and  ill-favored  pony,  around 
whose  neck  was  suspended  a string  of 
bells. 

But  we  had  promised  to  go  into  town  to 
attend  a children’s  service  that  day,  and  we 
could  not  longer  sit  in  the  tent  door. 

o 

What  a pleasant  sight  were  the  gardens 
as  we  drove  along ! There  were  exquisite 
flowers  in  bloom,  rare  rich  roses  brilliant 
in  color  and  heavy  with  perfume.  There 
came  to  us,  borne  on  the  air,  the  faint, 
delicious  fragrance  of  mignonette  and  helio- 
trope.  The  verandas  of  some  of  our 
neighbors  were  aflame  with  the  gorgeous 
blossoms  of  a luxuriant  creeper,  and  over 


214 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


a tree  a creeping  plant  had  climbed  and 
twisted  until  it  stood  forth  a pyramid  of 
showy  bloom.  The  oranges  hung  ripe  on 
the  boughs  of  the  low  trees,  and  there 
were  rich  clusters  of  the  banana  in  the 
midst  of  great  shining  green  leaves.  There 
was  not  a cloud  in  the  sky,  and  the  sun 
shone  with  a heat  that  was  oppressive  at 
noonday. 

When  we  reached  the  church,  a large 
number  of  children  had  already  assembled. 
What  happy  faces  they  wore,  and  how 
cheerful  were  their  voices!  It  was  “Chil- 
dren’s Day,”  and  very  important  the  little 
people  looked  as  they  filed  into  the  front 
seats  in  the  body  of  the  church.  Very 
heartily  they  joined  in  the  singing,  and 
sweet  and  clear  were  their  voices. 

The  pastor  took  his  place  in  the  pulpit, 
and  after  a brief  and  earnest  prayer 
preached  a sermon  prepared  especially  for 
the  children,  full  of  precious  truth  and  in 
language  so  simple  that  the  very  youngest 
could  understand  the  message.  The  chil- 
dren listened  attentively  and  with  no  sign 
of  impatience,  though  spread  temptingly 


A NEW  YEAR'S  BAY  IN  INDIA.  2 1 5 

on  the  table  before  the  pulpit  were  the 
beautiful  books  which  kind  friends  had 
provided — a gift  for  each  child. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  service  the  pas- 
tor stepped  out  of  the  pulpit,  and,  taking 
his  place  before  the  gift-laden  table,  called 
two  or  three  friends  to  his  assistance,  and 
the  presents  were  soon  distributed.  There 
were  books  suitable  for  the  pupils  of  the 
more  advanced  classes,  and  books  for  the 
very  youngest.  It  was  pleasant  to  observe 
that  the  children  received  the  beautiful 
books  with  a low-spoken  “Thank  you”  or 
a graceful  bow.  After  the  distribution  of 
the  gifts  another  hymn  of  praise  was  sung, 
and  with  a prayer  and  a benediction  the 
services  closed. 

We  returned  to  our  tents,  and  as  the  sun 
was  sinking  in  the  west  the  missionary  and 
his  helpers  went  out  to  a neighboring  vil- 
lage. Soon  a little  company  gathered  about 
them,  and  as  they  sat  together  in  the  twi- 
light they  told  to  the  waiting  company  the 
story  of  a Saviour’s  love.  The  people  lis- 
tened with  apparent  interest,  and  as  the 
darkness  deepened  women  from  the  low 


2l6 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


houses  near  at  hand  glided  out  and,  cover- 
ing themselves  with  their  veils,  sat  in  little 
groups  within  sound  of  the  speaker’s  voice, 
and  heard — it  may  be  for  the  first  time — 
the  sweet  gospel  story.  The  stars  came 
out,  and  still  the  people  lingered.  Some 
times  a question  was  asked,  sometimes  a 
dissenting  voice  was  heard,  and  occasionally 
some  one  in  the  audience,  addressing  the 
speaker,  would  say  with  emphasis,  “Your 
words  are  good  words ; they  are  true 
words.”  At  last  the  people  returned  to 
their  homes,  and  in  the  clear  starlight  the 
preachers  came  back  to  their  tents. 

The  doors  were  made  fast  for  the  night, 
and  the  watchmen  sent  to  guard  our  en- 
campment took  up  their  monotonous  call. 
The  day  was  ended — the  first  day  of  the 
New  Year. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


A CHURCH  ON  THE  RIVER  JUMNA. 

HE  fort  at  Allahabad  is  built  at  the 


junction  of  two  great  rivers,  the 
Ganges  and  the  Jumna.  On  the  banks  of 
these  streams  are  many  temples,  but  on  the 
Jumna,  about  a mile  from  the  fort,  is  a 
Christian  sanctuary — a pleasant  sight  in  the 
midst  of  so  many  idolatrous  shrines.  Many 
years  ago  a large  bungalow  on  this  stream 
was  purchased  for  a mission  house,  and 
in  this  same  enclosure  a neat  little  church 
was  built;  and  here  a Christian  congrega- 
tion still  meets  for  worship.  Not  far  from 
the  mission  bungalow  the  river  is  spanned 
by  a very  fine  bridge  over  which  heavy- 
laden  railway-trains  frequently  pass.  On 
the  river  curious  barges  are  slowly  plied 
by  dusky  natives,  who  look  up  with  eyes 
full  of  wonder  as  a long  railway-train  with 


217 


218 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


its  shrieking  engine  rumbles  across  the 
bridge. 

The  church  stands  in  the  midst  of  the  park- 
like enclosure,  and  in  the  grounds  are  many 
beautiful  trees  with  spreading  branches, 
while  here  and  there  a tall  palm  lifts  its 
graceful  head.  When  there  is  a large  gath- 
ering of  missionaries  for  the  transaction  of 
business  connected  with  their  work,  tents 
are  sometimes  pitched  in  this  compound, 
and  for  a few  days  these  canvas  houses  be- 
come the  houses  of  the  assembled  mission- 
aries, while  they  meet  for  worship  in  the 
church,  whose  doors  are  thrown  open  to 
let  in  the  sunshine  and  the  soft,  warm 
air. 

The  first  general  missionary  conference 
in  India  convened  in  Allahabad  in  Decem- 
ber, 1872.  The  sessions  of  the  conference 
were  held  in  this  church  on  the  banks  of  the 
Jumna,  and  in  the  spacious  grounds  be- 
tween forty  and  fifty  large  army-tents  were 
pitched  for  the  accommodation  of  the  dele- 
gates assembled  on  this  occasion. 

In  this  compound,  under  the  great  trees, 
in  the  shade,  little  children — some  with  pale 


CHURCH  ON  THE  RIVER  JUMNA. 


220 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


faces,  and  others  with  brown  skins — trambol 
about,  as  happy  as  frisking  lambs.  The 
home  of  the  Christian  natives  connected  with 
this  church  is  just  outside  the  enclosure. 

In  the  year  1857,  during  the  mutiny,  much 
property  was  destroyed  and  many  houses 
were  burned.  The  bungalow  on  the  bank 
of  the  Jumna,  which  had  been  for  many 
years  a pleasant  mission  home,  was  plun- 
dered and  fired.  The  church  could  not  be 
burned,  as  it  was  built  of  strong  masonry, 
but  it  was  spoiled  and  defaced,  and  the 
mutineers  took  from  the  belfry  the  sweet- 
toned  bell  which  so  often  had  called  to^eth- 
er  the  little  conoTe^ation,  and  carried  it  off 
to  a heathen  temple.  When  the  mutineers 
heard  that  the  English  soldiers  were  com- 
ing  to  the  rescue  of  their  countrymen,  they 
were  greatly  alarmed,  for  they  expected 
punishment.  They  could  not  restore  the 
lives  they  had  taken,  but  in  some  cases 
they  returned  the  property  they  had  stolen  ; 
and  in  this  way  the  church-bell  was  restored, 
and  now  from  its  former  place  rings  out  a 
welcome  to  the  house  of  prayer.  In  an- 
swer to  its  summons  from  out  of  their 


HINDU  MOTHER  ANI)  DAUGHTER. 


222 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


homes  the  worshipers  come  trooping,  fa- 
thers, mothers  and  children. 

The  people  of  India  have  dark  skins, 
but  European  features,  and  many  of  the 
children  are  very  winsome,  with  their  bright 
black  eyes,  regular  features  and  free,  grace- 
ful movements.  The  people  of  the  East 
are  fond  of  bright  colors — scarlet,  orange, 
violet,  blue  and  green — so  that  little  chil- 
dren sometimes  look  like  bits  of  rainbow. 
During-  the  hot  season  white  is  much  worn, 
both  by  men  and  by  women.  The  women 
and  the  young;  gjrls  wear  over  the  head 
and  shoulders  a snow-white  covering  grace- 
fully  arranged  ; the  men  and  the  boys  wear 
white  robes  and  caps  or  turbans.  A con- 
gregation of  Christian  natives  is  a pleasant 
sigfht. 

The  people  of  India  are  fond  of  music, 
and  all  sing,  even  the  children — not  always 
in  tune,  it  is  true,  but  with  a will,  as  though 
they  heartily  enjoyed  it. 

Some  of  the  members  of  the  little  con- 
gregation at  the  Jumna  were  once  orphan- 
children  left  destitute  and  forsaken,  without 
home  or  friends.  They  were  received  by 


A CHURCH  ON  THE  RIVER  JUMNA.  223 

the  missionaries,  kindly  cared  for  and  in- 
structed, and  now  are  useful  members  of 
society  and  of  the  church.  Some  of  the 
worshipers  in  this  sanctuary  were  once 
heathen.  The  children  love  the  Sabbath- 
school  and  commit  to  memory  not  only  por- 
tions of  the  Scriptures,  but  sweet  hymns. 
Some  time  ago  a young  girl,  a member  of 
this  Sabbath-school,  died.  She  had  a pleas- 
ant disposition,  was  quick  to  learn,  full  of 
life  and  was  a favorite  with  all.  She  was 
fond  of  singing,  and  in  the  Sabbath-school 
her  voice  rang  out  sweet  and  clear.  Dur- 
ing  her  illness,  which  lasted  many  weeks, 
she  suffered  greatly,  but  she  was  always 
gentle  and  patient.  When  she  knew  that 
she  could  not  recover,  she  felt  no  fear,  but 
with  a beaming  face  and  sparkling  eyes 
talked  of  the  dear  Saviour  to  .whom  she 
was  going  and  of  the  beautiful  home  he 
had  prepared  for  her.  The  dear  child,  we 
doubt  not,  is  now  with  Jesus  and  singing 
sweeter  songs  than  any  she  had  learned 
on  earth. 

A little  boy  in  Allahabad  belonging  to 
another  Christian  congregation  had  a pleas- 


224 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


ant  home,  fond  parents  and  affectionate 
brothers  and  sisters.  He  was  a very  happy 
little  fellow,  full  of  fun  and  frolic  and  always 
in  motion.  But  one  day,  coming  to  his 
mother,  he  said,  “I  am  ill.”  The  next  day 
he  was  worse,  and  as  day  after  day  he  grew 
weaker  and  weaker  his  fond  parents  began 
to  fear  that  their  darling  would  be  taken 
from  them.  The  little  boy  bore  his  suffer- 
ings with  great  patience.  When  he  had 
been  some  time  ill,  he  called  his  friends 
around  him  one  lovely  Sabbath  morning 
and  said,  as  they  stood  about  him  in  tears, 
“I  am  going  to  die,  but  I am  not  afraid.  I 
hear  the  voice  of  Jesus  calling  me.  He  will 
go  with  me,  and  I shall  be  happy  with  him 
for  ever.”  His  eyes  were  full  of  light  and 
his  face  wore  an  eager  look,  as  if  he  longed  to 
go.  “ Call  my  little  friends,”  he  said ; “ 1 want 
to  tell  them  that  I am  glad  to  go  to  Jesus. 
I want  to  tell  them  to  trust  in  Jesus  too.” 
With  a beaming  face  and  eager,  out 
stretched  hands  he  passed  away. 

I will  tell  you  of  one  other  happy  death 
among  the  Christians  here.  This  was  long 
ago,  and  the  story  has  been  beautifully  told 


A CHURCH  ON  THE  RIVER  JUMNA.  225 

by  a faithful  missionary  who  has  now  gone 
to  join  the  ransomed  of  the  Lord.  It  is  the 
story  of  a woman  named  Jatni.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  a Brahman — that  is,  her 
father  was  a Brahman  before  he  became  a 
Christian.  Jatni  was  married  when  she  was 
but  fifteen  years  old  to  a Christian  young 
man,  and  came  with  her  husband  to  Allah- 
abad. Jatni  was  very  quiet  and  very  dif- 
fident, but  she  soon  had  many  friends  in 
the  Christian  community.  “All  the  men 
were  ready  to  point  to  her  as  an  example 
for  their  wives,  and  all  the  women,  without 
envy  or  strife,  acknowledged  her  as  the 
most  excellent  person  amongst  them.  She 
never  quarreled  nor  slandered  nor  excited 
differences,  but  was  a healer  of  divisions.” 
The  pleasant  new  neighbor  who  had  so  soon 
made  a place  for  herself  in  the  hearts  of  all 
was  early  called  to  bear  heavy  sorrows.  Her 
first-born,  a beautiful,  winsome  boy,  was  ta- 
ken from  her  loving  arms  after  an  illness  of 
a day.  Sorely  the  young  mother  grieved  for 
her  darling,  but  she  did  not  murmur.  “It 
is  the  will  of  God,”  she  said.  Another 
precious  son  was  sent  to  comfort  her  in  her 


226 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


grief  and  loneliness.  He  was  the  light  of 
the  little  home  only  for  a few  brief  months, 
and  then  went  to  join  his  angel-brother. 
The  stricken  mother  even  now  lifted  her 
tearful  eyes  heavenward,  and  between  her 
sobs  faltered  out,  “ It  is  the  Lord  ; let  him 
do  what  seemeth  him  good.”  A dear  little 
daughter  was  next  given  to  bless  and  to 
brighten  the  lonely  home,  but  this  sweet 
blossom  was  soon  transplanted.  Now,  in 
the  bitterness  of  her  grief,  the  sorely- 
bereaved  mother  cried  out,  “ Behold  and 
see  if  there  be  any  sorrow  like  unto  my 
sorrow.”  But  as  one  whom  his  mother 
comforteth,  even  in  this  hour  did  the  Lord 
comfort  his  stricken  child.  Yet  now  the 
mother  began  to  droop.  Months  of  weak- 
ness and  pain  she  patiently  endured.  She 
knew  that  she  would  not  recover,  but  with 
eyes  clear  and  voice  calm  and  steady  she 
said,  “ I know  Christ,  and  can  fully  and 
completely  trust  him  in  all  things.  He 
keeps  my  mind  in  perfect  peace.”  When 
the  end  was  approaching,  she  called  for  her 
friends  and  assured  them  that  Christ  was 
with  her,  and  that  her  heart  was  full  of  faith 


A CHURCH  ON  THE  RIVER  JUMNA.  22J 

and  joy.  Then  she  bade  all  around  her 
farewell  and  prayed  for  them.  After  this 
she  was  silent  for  a few  moments,  and  then 
quietly  and  peacefully  passed  away. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

DEATH  IN  A HEATHEN  HOUSEHOLD.— THE 
CONTRAST. 

IN  a Hindu  household  at  our  very  doors 
were  three  little  boys,  “black  but 
comely.”  All  day  long  they  played  in  the 
sunshine,  as  happy  and  as  free  from  care 
as  the  sporting  lambs  or  the  birds  that 
warbled  in  the  branches  above  them.  Their 
merry  shouts  of  laughter  could  be  heard 
from  morning  until  night.  Constantly  in 
motion,  they  were  climbing,  dancing,  leap- 
ing, as  if  they  found  delight  in  mere  ani- 
mal existence.  Very  poor  were  the  parents, 
and  they  found  it  difficult  to  obtain  food 
sufficient  to  fill  the  mouths  of  their  hungry 
children  ; happily,  it  was  not  necessary  to 
take  much  thought  for  raiment. 

One  morning  the  father  called  to  tell  us 
that  one  of  his  sons  was  ill.  The  boy 
228 


DEATH  IN  A HEATHEN  HOUSEHOLD.  229 

languished  through  the  day,  and  the  parents 
in  agony  called  upon  their  gods;  “but 
there  was  no  voice,  nor  any  that  answered.” 
Very  early  the  following  morning  there  was 
borne  to  our  ears  the  sound  of  bitter  wail- 
ing. Springing  up  and  throwing  open  the 
shutters,  we  inquired  the  cause.  “Jag- 
lal  is  dead,”  was  the  answer.  Around  the 
little  lifeless  form  gathered  the  parents  and 
the  sobbing  brothers,  and  poured  out  their 
tears  and  bitter  lamentations  until  the  very 
air  seemed  freighted  with  anguish.  Through 
all  the  morning  hours  that  low  wailing 
sound  was  heard,  for  the  parents  in  this 
country,  as  in  other  lands,  love  their  chil- 
dren fondly  and  account  the  death  of  a 
child,  especially  of  a son,  as  a great  ca- 
lamity. 

How  hopeless  seemed  the  sorrow  of 
these  stricken  parents  ! In  their  affliction 
there  was  no  thought  of  the  chastening  as 
a portion  meted  out  to  them  by  a loving 
Father’s  hand  ; it  was,  instead,  a punish- 
ment inflicted  upon  them  by  an  angry  god. 
“ What  had  they  done,”  they  questioned, 
“that  they  should  be  so  sqrely  bereaved ? 


230 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


Had  they  not  presented  from  time  to  time 
such  offerings  as  they  were  able?”  The 
little  form  they  had  loved  so  dearly  would 
soon  be  hid  from  their  sight,  and  for  ever: 
their  creed  gave  them  no  hope  for  the 
future.  The  child  they  had  petted  and 
fondled — what  would  it  become  ? A tree, 
an  animal,  an  insect  or  a bird  ? To  them 
the  child  was  lost,  and  lost  eternally.  No 
wonder,  then,  that  their  sorrow  seemed 
heavier  than  they  could  bear.  They  had 
no  such  comfort  in  their  sorrow  and  be- 
reavement as  Christian  parents  have  in 
theirs.  To  them  death  was  only  blackness 
and  the  grave  was  dark  as  midnight. 

A few  hours  after  the  death  of  the  child 
the  little  form  was  wrapped  in  a bit  of  new 
cloth,  and  the  father,  accompanied  by  a 
few  friends,  bore  the  body  in  his  arms  to 
the  Ganges  and  cast  it  upon  the  bosom  of 
the  sacred  stream.  When  it  had  quite 
disappeared  from  view,  with  empty  arms 
and  aching  heart  the  bereaved  father  re- 
turned  to  his  desolate  home. 

One  cold  season,  after  we  had  spent 
several  weeks  in  tents,  moving  from  village 


DEATH  IN  A HEATHEN  HOUSEHOLD.  23  I 

to  village  in  order  to  carry  the  gospel  to 
those  living  at  a distance  remote  from  the 
great  centres,  before  we  returned  to  our 
home,  as  the  weather  grew  warm,  two  or 
three  unoccupied  bungalows  were  placed 
at  our  disposal.  One  of  these  was  built 
upon  a high  bank  overlooking  the  Jumna, 
at  this  point  a broad  and  beautiful  river. 
It  was  the  middle  of  March,  and  the  time 
of  wheat-harvest.  Following  the  reapers 
were  the  gleaners,  glad,  by  gathering  the 
stray  sheaves,  to  provide  a portion  of  food 
for  themselves  and  for  their  households. 
Up  and  down  the  broad  river  passed  curious 
native  boats  laden  with  wheat  or  cotton,  or 
other  merchandise. 

Looking  out  one  day,  we  saw  a funeral- 
procession  slowly  moving  down  the  bank 
to  the  water’s  edge.  Upon  a bed  was  laid 
a dead  body,  covered  with  a cloth.  When 
the  bearers  had  set  down  their  burden, 
preparations  were  made  for  bathing  the 
body,  after  which  it  was  laid  upon  a small 
pile  of  fagots ; and  when  it  had  been 
merely  blackened,  it  was  cast  into  the 


river. 


232  BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 

Another  day  a body  was  brought  to  a 
little  point  of  land  that  jutted  far  out  into 
the  river  ; to  this  place  had  been  brought 
a large  pile  of  fagots.  The  deceased 
evidently  belonged  to  a high-caste  family 
of  considerable  means.  Several  Brahman 
priests  were  in  attendance,  and  performed 
the  ceremonies  customary  upon  such  occa- 
sions. When  all  was  in  readiness,  the 
body  was  placed  upon  the  funeral-pile  and 
covered  with  a new  cloth.  Upon  a woman, 
in  this  case,  devolved  the  duty  of  lighting 
the  funeral -pile.  This  woman  walked  sev- 
eral times  around  the  pile  with  a little 
bundle  of  burning  fagots  in  her  hand  before 
setting  it  on  fire.  Applying  the  torch,  the 
pile  was  instantly  ablaze,  and  as  the  flames 
leaped  up  the  woman  turned  her  face  away 
from  the  sight  and  uttered  a loud  and 
piercing  cry.  When  the  body  had  been 
partially  consumed,  the  fire  was  extin- 
euished,  and  the  charred  remains  were 
cast  into  the  river. 

What  a sad  funeral  it  was ! and  how 
different  from  a Christian  burial!  We  lay 
our  dead  reverently  in  the  grave — with 


DEATH  IN  A HEATHEN  HOUSEHOLD.  233 

tearful  eyes  and  sorrowing  hearts,  it  is  true, 
but  we  are  not  left  comfortless : “ If  we 
believe  that  Jesus  died  and  rose  again, 
even  so  them  also  which  sleep  in  Jesus  will 
God  bring  with  him  but  the  poor  heathen 
has  no  such  hope  in  his  sorrow. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

BENARES,  AND  ITS  SCHOOLS  FOR  HEATHEN 
GIRLS. 

O the  devout  Hindu  the  Ganges  is  an 

o 


object  of  worship  from  its  source 
amid  the  snows  of  the  Himalayas  until  it 
loses  itself  in  the  Bay  of  Bengal.  The 
cities  on  the  banks  of  the  Ganges  are 

o 

naturally  regarded  as  sacred,  but  the  city 
of  Benares  is  considered  pre-eminently 
holy.  It  is  a very  ancient  city — just  how 
old  is  not  known,  but  it  was  great  and 
prosperous  twenty-five  centuries  ago.  The 
city  stretches  along  the  banks  of  the  river 
Ganges  for  nearly  three  miles,  and  there 
are  flights  of  handsome  stone  steps — or 
ghats,  as  they  are  called — leading  from  the 
temples  and  palaces  and  from  the  narrow 
streets  to  the  water’s  edge.  On  these 
broad  steps  there  are  always  throngs  of 


BENARES. 


235 


people — the  old  and  the  young,  the  rich  and 
the  poor,  the  sad  and  the  gay — all  anx- 
ious to  bathe  in  the  sacred  river  whose 
waters  they  are  taught  to  believe  will 
cleanse  them  from  all  sin.  Great  numbers 
of  priests  are  constantly  in  attendance, 
and  these  receive  liberal  offerings  from 
the  people. 

While  on  a visit  to  Benares  we  joined  a 
party  of  friends  in  an  excursion  on  the 
river,  and  on  that  occasion  had  a fine  view 
of  the  temples  with  their  glittering  domes 
and  pinnacles,  the  stately  palaces  and  the 
crowds  of  people  flocking  to  the  sacred 
places.  Before  we  reached  home  the  sun 
had  set,  and  as  darkness  settled  down  over 
the  city  lights  flashed  from  the  temples, 
and  out  upon  the  gloomy  river  shot  little 
vessels  filled  with  oil  in  which  lighted  tapers 
had  been  placed.  Each  little  lamp,  as  it 
rose  and  fell  upon  the  water,  was  watched 
with  anxious  eyes,  for  it  had  been  launched 
with  a prayer  to  some  heathen  divinity. 
Should  the  light  be  quickly  extinguished, 
this  was  accepted  as  an  indication  that  the 
god  was  not  pleased  to  grant  the  request; 


236 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


if  it  floated  on  unextinguished,  it  was 
believed  that  the  prayer  would  be  an- 
swered. 

Benares  is  a city  full  of  temples  and 
shrines.  Idols  great  and  small  are  found 
not  only  in  temples,  but  in  niches  in  the 
walls.  Indeed,  there  are  idols  everywhere. 
And  not  only  are  dumb  idols  worshiped, 
but  animals  also.  One  large  temple  is 
devoted  to  monkeys ; another,  to  sacred 
cattle.  There  are  sacred  wells  and  tanks. 

Benares  has  also  its  busy  bazaars  and 
its  shops  filled  with  many  beautiful  and 
curious  things  ; but  nothing  in  this  teeming 
city  interested  us  so  much  as  the  schools 
for  girls  we  found  there.  In  one  school 
which  we  visited  there  were  more  than  a 
hundred  heathen  girls.  Many  of  these  chil- 
dren came  from  homes  of  great  poverty  and 
were  very  scantily  clothed.  One  child,  as 
she  came  forward  with  her  class  to  recite, 
held  in  her  arms  a babe,  thin  and  ill,  that 
clung  to  her  and  moaned.  The  little  sister 
was  not  impatient,  but  very  tenderly  rocked 
the  puny  creature  in  her  arms.  Many  of 
the  children  in  this  school  could  read  well. 


238  BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 

They  had  learned  much  of  the  Bible,  and 
they  sang  several  hymns  very  sweetly. 

In  the  second  school  which  we  visited 
the  children  were  more  comfortably  clothed, 
and  such  bright,  happy  faces  as  they  wore 
it  was  a delight  to  see.  How  eager  they 
were  to  learn,  and  how  proud  of  their 
attainments  ! Here,  too,  they  had  learned 
to  sing  Christian  hymns,  and  several  of 
the  children  recited  the  “ old,  old  story  ” 
as  it  had  been  translated  from  English  into 

o 

their  own  language. 

The  third  and  last  school  which  we  at 
this  time  visited  in  Benares  is  supported  by 
a Hindu  nobleman  who  founded  the  school 
for  the  education  of  the  daughters  of  hmh- 
caste  natives.  The  school  speedily  became 
popular,  and  at  the  time  of  our  visit  twenty- 
one  teachers  were  employed  and  six  hun- 
dred pupils  were  in  attendance.  As  we 
went  from  room  to  room  our  hearts  were 
full  of  Gratitude  that  in  so  idolatrous  a 

o 

city  such  a school  was  possible.  In  one 
department  we  found  girls  grown  almost 
to  womanhood,  many  of  them  well  dressed 
and  adorned  with  jewels.  Maps  were  on 


BENARES. 


239 


the  walls  and  books  and  slates  on  the 
tables,  while  the  ready  answers  and  the 
eager  looks  showed  that  learning  was  a 
delight.  In  some  of  the  rooms  the  chil- 
dren  were  learning  the  alphabet.  They 
held  in  their  hands  pieces  of  tin  or  small, 
thin  bits  of  board,  upon  which,  with  a reed 
pen  dipped  in  a chalky  mixture,  they  tried 
to  copy  the  letters  made  by  the  teacher. 
In  some  of  the  classes  the  children  were 
reading  fluently;  in  others,  learning  geog- 
raphy ; in  others,  working  examples  in 
arithmetic.  One  large  room  was  occupied 
by  the  sewing-class.  The  girls  were  not 
learning  plain  sewing,  but  were  making 
beautiful  fancy  articles. 

“Why  do  they  make  those  things?”  we 
asked.  “They  can  have  no  use  for  them.” 

“ They  are  made  for  the  nobleman  who 
supports  the  school,”  was  answered.  “All 
the  materials  are  furnished,  and  the  maha- 
rajah is  pleased  to  present  these  articles  to 
his  friends.” 

All  the  children  in  this  school  were  from 
high-caste  families,  and  some  of  the  num- 
ber  wore  many  and  handsome  jewels. 


240 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


When  they  moved  about  the  room,  the  or- 
naments upon  their  feet  and  ankles  made 
a tinkling  sound.  The  children  in  this 
school  do  not  receive  Christian  instruction, 
but  to  see  so  larg-e  a number  of  high-caste 
girls  learning  to  read,  and  learning,  be- 
sides, many  useful  lessons,  in  a school 
carefully  superintended,  the  whole  sup- 
ported at  a great  cost  by  a native  prince 
and  in  a city  like  Benares,  is  certainly  most 
encouraging. 

o o 


CHAPTER  XX. 

OTHER  SCHOOLS  FOR  HEATHEN  GIRLS. 

OME  time  ago  we  paid  a visit  to  South 


India,  and  there  saw  several  very  in- 
teresting schools.  The  first  which  we  vis- 
ited was  for  heathen  girls  in  the  city  of 
Vellore.  The  girls  in  this  school  were 
chiefly  from  well-to-do  families,  and  were 
comfortably  clothed  and  quite  neat  in  ap- 
pearance. Many  of  them  wore  gayly- 
colored  jackets,  and  the  bright  colors  con- 
trasted pleasantly  with  the  dark  skin.  A 
large  number  of  the  girls  could  not  only 
read  and  write  well,  but  they  knew  some- 
thing, also,  of  geography,  arithmetic,  gram- 
mar and  the  history  of  their  own  country. 
They  had  been  taught  to  sew,  and  the  dark 
eyes  sparkled  with  pleasure  when  some 
specimens  of  needlework  were  exhibited 
and  the  neatly-made  garments  called  forth 

16  241 


242 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


well-merited  praise.  Better  than  all  else, 
these  girls  had  learned  much  of  the  Bible 
and  the  Saviour  therein  made  known,  for 
the  wife  and  the  daughter  of  the  missionary 
living  in  Vellore  had  in  their  own  loving 
way  instructed  them  in  these  things.  The 
parents  of  the  children  were  proud  of  their 
attainments  and  gladly  availed  themselves 
of  the  opportunities  afforded  for  the  in- 
struction of  their  daughters,  though  a few 
years  ago  it  was  considered  very  improper 
for  a woman  to  be  at  all  enlightened. 

The  place  in  which  this  school  met,  like 
many  of  the  dwellings  of  the  East,  consisted 
of  a large  number  of  rooms  opening  into  a 
central  court.  Sitting  on  the  ground  in  this 
court,  only  the  clear  sky  above  them,  were 
several  little  girls  learning  the  Tamil  alpha- 
bet, but  they  had  neither  book,  slate  nor 
blackboard.  Fine  clear  sand  to  a consid- 
erable depth  had  been  spread  upon  the 
ground  in  the  form  of  a square,  and  around 
this  sat  the  little  girls  writing  in  the  sand, 
with  the  fore  finger  of  the  right  hand  mak- 
ing a letter,  then  with  their  fat  little  hands 
smoothing  the  sand  and  making  the  same 


OTHER  SCHOOLS  FOR  HEATHEN  GIRLS.  243 

letter  a^ain  until  the  teacher  was  satisfied. 
Learning  the  alphabet  in  this  way  was 
nearly  as  good  as  play  to  the  children.  It 
was  a wise  plan,  too,  for,  while  they  learned 
to  distinguish  the  letters  one  from  another, 
they  also  learned  to  form  them.  When 
they  had  in  this  way  learned  all  the  al- 
phabet, they  were  promoted  to  a higher 
class. 

In  another  school  which  we  visited  the 
copybooks  were  brought  us  for  inspection. 
They  were  made,  not  of  paper,  but  of  strips 
of  the  dried  leaf  of  the  Palmyra  palm. 
These  strips  were  about  a foot  in  length 
and  about  two  inches  in  width.  Instead 
of  a pen  a little  pointed  steel  instrument 
was  used  in  writingr.  Through  one  end  of 
each  strip  a hole  was  pierced,  and  the  leaves 
of  the  book  were  then  strung  together. 

We  saw  loads  of  this  curious  stationery 
on  the  way  to  the  bazaar  for  sale.  It  is  not 
only  used  in  schools,  but  the  accounts  of 
shopkeepers  are  preserved  in  these  leaf- 
books.  On  such  strips  records  are  kept, 
and  even  letters  are  written. 

A third  school  which  we  visited  was  in 


244 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


Trevandrum,  the  capital  of  Travancore. 
This  little  kingdom  is  governed  by  a very 
enlightened  native  prince  ; his  palace  is 
within  the  fort.  Here  is  also  a largre  and 

o 

very  sacred  heathen  temple.  Several  in- 
ferior princes  and  nobles,  as  well  as  a large 
number  of  high-caste  natives,  reside  within 
the  fort.  The  fort  is  enclosed  by  a high 
wall,  and  within  the  gates  no  person  of  low 
caste  is  allowed  to  dwell. 

Several  years  ago  one  of  the  wealthy 
natives  built  for  himself  a fine  house  with 
large  pleasant  rooms.  When  the  house 
was  ready  for  occupancy,  the  owner  heard 
at  various  times  strange  sounds  which  he 
could  not  understand,  and,  supposing  that 
the  house  was  haunted,  could  not  be  induced 
to  take  possession.  About  this  time  an 
English  lady,  as  she  read  and  heard  about 
India’s  needs  and  how  ignorant  were  the 
children  in  the  most  favored  families,  re- 
solved to  leave  her  pleasant  home  and 
devote  her  life  to  teaching  the  women  and 
children  of  that  dark  land.  She  came  to 
Trevandrum,  and,  won  by  the  lady’s  kind 
face  and  pleasant  words,  several  families  of 


MISSION-SCHOOL  IN  INDIA. 


246 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


influence  at  length  consented  to  place  their 
daughters  under  her  instruction.  A suitable 
building  was  required,  and  the  lady,  hearing 
of  the  haunted  house,  visited  it,  and  finding 
it  well  adapted  to  her  purpose,  and  having 
no  fear  of  the  evil  spirits  supposed  by  the 
owner  to  dwell  there,  secured  it  for  her 
school.  It  was  in  this  fine  building  that  we 
saw  assembled  a large  company  of  happy 
children.  The  girls  were  evidently  very 
fond  of  the  school  and  of  the  kind  lady  in 
charge.  All  the  children  were  taught  to 
read  and  to  write  in  their  own  language, 
and  some  of  the  older  ones  were  also  being- 
taught  to  read  and  to  write  the  English 
language.  These  bright-eyed  girls  were 
learning  to  use  the  needle  with  skill,  and 
some  of  the  specimens  of  work  shown 
us  were  really  beautiful. 

In  many  families  in  India,  even  among 
the  wealthy,  the  women  are  very  ignorant. 
They  have  never  learned  to  employ  their 
hands,  as  the  household  occupations  are 
left  to  servants ; they  therefore  spend  their 
time  in  a very  idle  manner — eating,  sleep- 
ing oiling-  and  braiding-  their  long  black 


OTHER  SCHOOLS  FOR  HEATHEN  GIRLS.  247 

hair,  in  admiring  and  counting  their  jewels, 
and,  it  must  be  confessed,  not  infrequently  in 
gossiping  and  quarreling.  But  the  children 
taught  in  these  schools,  when  they  become 
women,  will  have  wiser,  more  womanly 
occupations. 

We  were  both  surprised  and  delighted  to 
find  how  much  precious  Bible  truth  the  girls 
in  this  school  had  learned.  They  knew 
much  of  the  Saviour,  of  his  life  on  earth 
and  the  work  he  came  to  do.  They  could 
repeat  many  precious  passages  of  Scripture, 
and  they  sang  very  sweetly  many  Chris- 
tian hymns. 

Will  not  the  reader  pray  for  the  heathen 
girls  gathered  into  schools  in  India  that  they 
may  not  only  learn  about  Jesus,  but  accept 
him  as  the  Saviour  and  their  Saviour? 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


SCHOOLS  FOR  CHRISTIAN  GIRLS. 

the  foot  of  the  Himalayas,  and  sep- 


arated from  the  plains  by  a range  of 
low  mountains,  is  a very  lovely  valley  more 
than  two  thousand  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  sea.  This  valley  is  about  sixty  miles 
long  and  ten  miles  wide,  and  is  bounded 
by  the  Ganges  on  one  end  and  by  the  Jum- 
na on  the  other.  In  the  midst  of  this  beau- 
tiful doon,  or  valley,  is  the  pretty  town  of 
Dehra.  Set  in  the  midst  of  grounds  taste- 
fully  laid  out,  shaded  by  trees  of  luxuriant 
foliage  and  bright  with  flowers  of  richest 
hues,  are  many  pleasant  homes.  Some  of 
the  roads  in  and  around  Dehra  are  hedged 
with  roses,  and  here  and  there  are  clumps 
of  the  feathery  bamboo.  Lofty,  majestic 
Himalayan  peaks  are  in  full  view,  and  on 
the  slopes  of  the  mountains  eight  or  ten 


248 


SCHOOLS  FOR  CHRISTIAN  GIRLS.  249 

miles  distant  nestle  the  white  houses  com- 
posing the  picturesque  towns  of  Landour 
and  Mussooril. 

/ A lovely  spot  is  this  town  of  Dehra,  with 
its  attractive  homes,  its  fair  and  fragrant 
gardens  and  its  glorious  outlook,  but  to  me 
the  brightest  spot  in  this  fair  valley  is  the 
lanje  and  fine  school  established  about  a 
quarter  of  a century  ago  for  the  daughters 
of  Christian  natives.  Very  few  of  these 
children  in  their  own  homes  could  be  trained 
to  such  habits  of  neatness,  order  and  indus- 
try as  are  essential  to  the  formation  of  a 
symmetrical  character,  since  many  of  the 
mothers  themselves  have  received  little 
education  or  training. 

In  this  school  the  children  are  received 
as  into  a home,  and  are  taught  to  prize  its 
privileges  and  to  bear  each  her  share  of  its 
duties  and  responsibilities.  They  are 
taught  to  keep  in  a tidy  condition  their 
rooms,  to  make  them  cheerful  and  tasteful 
with  womanly  devices,  to  make  their  own 
clothing,  and  in  order  to  inculcate  a thought- 
ful, unselfish  care  for  others  each  one  of  the 
older  girls  has  in  her  care  one  of  the  young- 


250 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


er  pupils,  for  whose  neat  and  tidy  appear- 
ance she  is  responsible. 

It  is  pleasant  to  watch  the  kindling  of  the 
eyes  and  to  note  the  light  beaming  from 
the  countenances  of  these  odds  in  the  class- 

o 

room  as  some  new  truth  is  comprehended. 
One  of  the  girls  educated  in  this  school  has 
taken  the  high  position  of  a graduate  in 
arts  of  the  University  of  Calcutta,  the  first 
woman  in  India  who  has  attained  to  this 
decree.  Some  of  the  daughters  educated 
in  this  school  are  now  the  wives  of  native 
pastors  and  teachers  ; others  are  themselves 
teachers  ; while  others,  in  homes  of  their 
own,  are  doing  their  duty  more  faithfully, 
are  making  their  homes  brighter,  purer 
and  happier,  because  of  the  influence  and 
education  of  this  school. 

I have  told  you  in  a previous  chapter  of 
the  large  and  important  school  established 
in  the  city  of  Benares  by  a native  prince 
for  the  daughters  of  high-caste  families. 

o o 

Another  school  which  I visited  in  the  same 
city  gave  me  much  pleasure:  this  was  the 
normal  school  for  the  training  of  native 
Christian  girls.  I saw  the  pupils  first  in  the 


SCHOOLS  FOR  CHRISTIAN  GIRLS.  25  I 

chapel  when  they  had  assembled  for  morn- 
ing prayers,  a large  number  of  neatly- 
dressed  girls  with  happy  and  intelligent 
faces ; later  I saw  them  in  their  classes,  and 
marked  the  interest  manifested  in  their  les- 
sons and  the  prompt  and  correct  answers. 
Deftly  they  had  learned  to  use  the  needle, 
fashioning  dainty  garments  which  the  “ high- 
est lady  in  the  land  ” might  wear  with  pride 
and  pleasure.  I saw  some  of  those  who 
had  passed  the  full  course  of  instruction  in 
this  school  giving  instruction  in  other 
schools  and  acquitting  themselves  with 
great  credit.  Bishop  Speechly  of  Travan- 
core,  a visitor  from  the  far  South,  writes  of 
this  school,  “ It  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
things  in  mission  work  I have  seen.” 

When,  a few  years  ago,  we  paid  a visit 
to  the  South  of  India,  we  spent  a Sabbath 
in  the  hospitable  home  of  Bishop  and  Mrs. 
Sargent — a precious,  never-to-be-forgotten 
Sabbath.  Quite  near  the  residence  of  the 
bishop  was  the  church,  a spacious  edifice 
with  seating  accommodation  for  an  audience 
of  fifteen  hundred.  On  the  day  we  wor- 
shiped there  the  congregation  numbered 


252 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


nine  hundred  and  fifty-nine,  and  a more  in- 
teresting congregation  we  had  not  seen  in 
India,  the  audience,  adults  and  young  peo- 
ple, so  reverent,  so  attentive  and  apparently 
so  intelligent. 

But  a short  distance  from  the  bishop’s 
own  dwelling-  was  a boarding-school  for 
the  daughters  of  Christian  natives  ; in  this 
school  Mrs.  Sargent  felt  a very  deep  inter- 
est. Becomingly  clad,  graceful  and  polite 
in  demeanor,  the  ofirls  belonging-  to  this 
school  filed  into  the  drawing-room  on  the 
evening  of  our  arrival,  and  in  low,  sweet 
voices  sang  several  Christian  hymns.  We 
saw  these  girls  as  they  marched  past  the 
house  on  their  way  to  the  sanctuary  on  the 
Sabbath.  Reverent  in  manner,  as  became 
the  day  and  the  service,  it  was  a sight  to  fill 
the  heart  with  gratitude.  When  the  service 
at  the  church  was  over,  the  girls,  fifty-eight 
in  number,  met  Mrs.  Sargent  in  one  of  the 
rooms  of  her  own  dwelling.  Together  they 
sang  a hymn  of  praise,  then  in  her  own 
loving  way  Mrs.  Sargent  questioned  them 
about  the  sermon  to  which  they  had  just 
listened.  Each  girl  held  in  her  hand  her 


SCHOOLS  FOR  CHRISTIAN  GIRLS.  253 

Bible,  to  which  she  frequently  turned  for 
references  bearing  on  the  subject  under 
review.  The  hour  closed  with  prayer,  after 
which,  in  thoughtful  mood,  the  girls  returned 
to  their  own  quarters.  We  saw  them  again 
the  following  day,  when,  their  school-lessons 
over,  they  gathered  in  the  broad,  pleasant 
verandas  around  Mrs.  Sargent’s  own  room 
to  receive  instruction  in  needlework;  and 
while  their  hands  were  thus  usefully  em- 
ployed precious  words  of  truth  and  wisdom 
fell  from  the  lips  of  the  beloved  lady  who 
joyfully  spent  her  strength  in  such  Christ- 
like  service. 

But  this  faithful  laborer  in  the  vineyard  of 
the  Master  is  not,  for  the  Lord  has  called  her 
to  himself.  Suddenly  the  summons  came 
to  her  to  “go  up  higher.”  On  the  last  Satur- 
day afternoon  of  Mrs.  Sargent’s  life  she  had 
her  girls,  as  usual,  to  pray  for  God’s  bless- 
ing and  to  prepare  them  for  the  duties  and 
the  privileges  of  the  coming  Sabbath.  Be- 
fore separating  they  sang  together  that 
beautiful  hymn  “ Safe  in  the  arms  of  Jesus.” 
On  the  morning  of  the  following  Tuesday 
Mrs.  Sargent  passed  away,  and  on  the 


254 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


morning  of  Wednesday  her  body  was  com- 
mitted to  the  grave.  Standing  around  the 
open  tomb  after  the  officiating  clergyman 
had  pronounced  the  benediction,  the  girls 
of  Mrs.  Sargent’s  boarding-school  sang 
alone,  in  a softened  strain,  the  first  verse  of 
the  hymn,  the  last  in  which  they  had  joined 
with  their  beloved  teacher  and  friend,  “ Safe 
in  the  arms  of  Jesus.” 

Surely  the  girls  trained  under  Mrs.  Sar- 
gent’s faithful  care  will  never  forget  her 
wise  and  loving  counsels.  If  disposed  to 
be  cast  down  in  trouble,  they  will  hear 
again  the  voice  that  so  often  said  to  them 
when  schoolgirl  trials  seemed  hard  to  bear, 
“ Where  is  the  smiling  face  the  Christian 
ought  to  wear?”  If  tempted  to  be  remiss 
in  duty  or  prodigal  of  time  and  opportunity, 
they  will  hear  the  voice  of  the  one  who  was 
for  so  many  years  their  guide,  in  tones  of 
gentle  reproach  whisper,  as  was  her  wont, 
“ When  the  Master  comes,  he  must  find  me 
at  my  work  ; Jesus  claims  all  our  time  and 
all  our  powers.” 

We  left  Palamcottah  at  twilight  one 
evening,  and  traveled  all  night  in  a con- 


SCHOOLS  FOR  CHRISTIAN  GIRLS.  255 

veyance  drawn  by  bullocks.  Just  as  the 
day  was  breaking  we  saw  against  the  sky 
the  tall  and  graceful  spire  of  a Christian 
church.  We  were  in  the  midst  of  a great 
sandy  desert  where  only  thorn-bushes  and 
castor-oil  shrubs  seemed  to  grow,  and  the 
only  tree  that  thrived  was  the  Palmyra  palm. 
Yet  here  in  the  desert  was  an  imposing 
Gothic  church  edifice  crowned  with  a beau- 
tiful spire.  Not  far  from  the  church  was  a 
village  numbering  less  than  a thousand 
souls.  Through  this  village  was  a broad 
street  with  rows  of  feathery  palms  on 
either  side.  Around  the  church  the  desert 
rejoiced  and  blossomed  as  the  rose.  There 
were  fine  trees  luxuriant  in  foliage,  grace- 
ful creepers  and  lovely  flowers  in  pro- 
fusion and  variety.  There,  too,  was  a 
Christian  home  as  well  as  lar^e  and  hand- 
some  school-buildings.  We  were  welcomed 

o 

to  this  paradise  in  the  desert  by  Mrs. 
Thomas,  widow  of  the  Rev.  John  Thomas, 
who  came  to  this  spot  in  the  wilderness 
in  the  year  1837.  A desert  it  was  indeed 
at  that  time,  but  wells  were  dug,  buildings 
erected  and  trees  planted;  and  the  springs 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


256 

opened  in  the  dry  and  thirsty  land  caused 
the  wilderness  and  the  solitary  place  to 
blossom  abundantly. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  spacious  church- 
edifice  was  laid  on  the  26th  of  June,  1843, 
and  on  the  same  glad  occasion  the  corner- 
stone of  a large  and  commodious  building 
designed  as  a boarding-school  for  native 
Christian  girls  was  also  laid. 

Does  any  one  wonder  why  so  noble  a 
church-building  and  boarding-school  were 
required  in  such  a place  ? This  desert- 
land,  rich  only  in  Palmyra  palms,  has  been 
a field  greatly  blessed  of  the  Lord.  There 
are  in  the  district  of  Mengnanapuram 
alone  more  than  eighteen  thousand  persons 
in  connection  with  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
seven  congregations,  and  in  the  various 
schools  in  the  district  are  gathered  over 
four  thousand  children. 

When,  in  the  year  1868,  the  top  stone 
of  the  spire  of  the  Mengnanapuram  church 
was  laid,  a short  thanksgiving  service  was 
first  held  within  the  church,  when  one 
thousand  native  children  joined  in  singing 
the  Doxology.  The  audience  then  stood 


SCHOOLS  FOR  CHRISTIAN  GIRLS.  257 

outside  the  building  while  the  stone  was 
adjusted,  and  at  a given  signal  four  thou- 
sand happy  voices  shouted,  “Glory  be  to 
God !”  taking  up  again  and  again  the 
triumphant  refrain  until  the  desert  rang 
with  the  joyful  sound.  Two  years  after 
this  memorable  occasion  the  faithful  mis- 
sionary whose  labors  God  had  so  signally 
blessed  laid  aside  his  armor  and  went  up  to 
take  his  crown,  leaving  this  beautiful  church 
as  his  monument,  and  beneath  its  shadow 
he  sleeps,  waiting  for  the  morning  of  the 
resurrection. 

Mrs.  Thomas  and  her  daughter  remain 
in  the  home  hallowed  by  so  many  sacred 
and  tender  associations,  that  they  may 
labor  among  the  people  for  whom  the 
husband  and  father  laid  down  his  life. 
The  boarding-school  for  the  daughters  of 
Christian  natives  is  their  especial  care. 
From  the  village  schools  scattered  through- 
out  the  district  those  pupils  are  selected  to 
enjoy  the  privileges  of  this  school  who,  it  is 
felt,  will  best  appreciate  and  improve  its  ad- 
vantages. Of  the  influence  exerted  upon 
children  thus  placed  under  Christian  in- 
17 


258 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


struction  Bishop  Sargent  says,  “ What  in- 
fluence does  the  kind  and  consistent  char- 
acter of  the  missionary’s  wife  bear  on  these 
children  ! Fed  with  food  convenient  for 
them,  well  clad  and  trained  to  cleanly  and 
regular  habits,  the  moral  and  religious 
feelings  exercised,  children  of  very  ordi- 
nary, and  even  forbidding,  looks  are  turned 
into  pleasing  and  attractive  beings.” 

We  set  out  from  Mengnanapuram  just 
at  nightfall  for  another  journey  through  the 
desert.  It  was  not  a long  journey — less  than 
twenty  miles — but  it  occupied  the  entire 
night,  a night  of  strange  stillness,  the 
creaking  of  the  great  wheels  of  the  cart  as 
they  slowly  turned  in  the  trackless  sand 
almost  the  only  sound  that  broke  upon  our 
ears  ; but  with  the  coming-  of  the  dawn  we 
passed  out  of  the  desert  into  another 
paradise  in  the  wilderness,  Edeyenkoody — 
literally,  “shepherds’  village” — where  for 
more  than  forty  years  the  Rev.  R.  Cald- 
well (now  Bishop  Caldwell)  has  lived  and 
labored. 

When  this  faithful  shepherd  first  made 
his  home  in  this  place,  Edeyenkoody  was 


SCHOOLS  FOR  CHRISTIAN  GIRLS.  259 

but  a desert;  now  India  boasts  no  fairer 
spot.  In  the  midst  of  tasteful  grounds 
rich  in  noble  trees,  blossoming  shrubs  and 
graceful  creepers  was  set  the  home  of 
Bishop  Caldwell  and  his  family.  The  vil- 
lage of  Edeyenkoody  was  indeed  a model 
village,  with  its  broad,  straight  street,  its 
tidy  homes  and  its  happy  people.  A 
spacious  Gothic  church-edifice  designed 
to  seat  one  thousand  two  hundred  persons 
was  in  process  of  erection  at  the  time  of 
our  visit. 

Outside  this  little  Eden  all  was  desert, 
but  in  the  sandy  waste  the  Palmyra  palm 
flourished,  and  here  too  Christianity  had 
triumphed  gloriously  over  heathenism  the 
densest  and  grossest.  Scattered  over  the 
district  were  Christian  villages  and  congre- 
gations, churches, prayer-houses  and  schools. 

At  Edeyenkoody,  as  at  Palamcottah  and 
Mengnanapuram,  we  found  a large  board- 
ing-school for  girls.  Into  this  school  were 
gathered  the  more  promising  daughters  of 
the  Christian  natives  from  the  district. 
Carefully  they  were  trained,  that  when 
they  returned  to  their  rural  homes  they 


26o 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


might  be  “ specimens  and  patterns  to  the 
rest  of  the  people  of  what  Christian  women 
ought  to  be,  thus  raising  the  character  of 
the  female  portion  of  the  community.” 

I fancy  I see  before  me  now  the  long  line 
of  neatly-dressed  girls  as  they  filed  past 
the  home  of  the  missionary  bishop  and 
passed  into  the  church.  Nothing  in  con- 
nection with  our  delightful  visit  to  Edeyen- 
koody  do  we  remember  with  more  pleas- 
ure than  the  school  where  so  many  of  the 
daughters  of  the  land  were  being-  trained 

o o 

for  future  usefulness. 

Another  night  of  travel  by  bullock- 
cart  ; and  when  the  morning  dawned,  we 
stood  on  the  seashore  at  Cape  Comorin, 
the  Land’s  End  of  India.  Loudly  the  waves 
thundered  against  the  rocky  shore,  sending 
out  sheets  of  foam.  There  were  groves 
of  palms  within  a few  rods  of  the  shore,  and 
there,  too,  were  many  temples  ; for  Cape 
Comorin  is  one  of  the  places  of  pilgrimage 
sacred  to  the  Hindu.  We  remained  by  the 
sea  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  and  then  set 
out  on  our  journey  to  Nagercoil,  only  a few 
miles  distant.  Here  the  Sabbath  was  spent 


SCHOOLS  FOR  CHRISTIAN  GIRLS.  26 1 


in  the  pleasant  home  of  a missionary  and  his 
wife.  It  was  our  privilege  on  this  Sab- 
bath to  worship  with  a large  and  very  in- 
teresting congregation  in  a spacious  church 
the  corner-stone  of  which  was  laid  by  the 
Rev.  Richard  Knill  on  the  ist  of  January, 
1819.  The  people  of  this  congregation  had 
just  completed,  at  their  own  cost,  a fine 
school-building  near  the  church,  and  here, 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  Sabbath,  an  inter- 
esting children’s  service  was  held. 

On  Monday  we  paid  a visit  to  the  excel- 
lent boarding-school  for  the  daughters  of 

o o 

the  Christian  natives  connected  with  the 
congregations  of  this  flourishing  mission. 
This  school  was  established  more  than  sev- 
enty years  ago,  and  has  accomplished  a 
noble  work  in  the  education  of  several 
generations  of  daughters.  At  the  time  of 
our  visit  the  school  was  in  the  care  of  Mrs. 
Lee,  wife  of  the  Rev.  William  Lee. 

I will  speak  of  only  one  other  boarding- 
school  for  Christian  girls.  This  is  at  Cot- 
tagam,  on  the  western  coast  of  India.  The 
school  is  now,  as  it  has  been  for  sixty-jive 
years , superintended  by  Mrs.  Henry  Baker, 


262 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


Sr.,  and  not  only  superintended,  but  the 
pupils  are  personally  instructed  by  this 
remarkable  Christian  lady.  Mrs.  Baker 
pointed  out  to  us  girls  whose  mothers, 
grandmothers  and  great-grandmothers  have 
been  educated  in  this  school  under  her 
tuition.  His  Highness  the  late  maharajah 
of  Travancore  not  long  before  his  death 
paid  a visit  to  this  school,  examined  the 
pupils  in  their  studies  and  expressed  him- 
self much  gratified  with  the  result,  sending 
afterward  a considerable  sum  of  money  to 
be  expended  in  prizes  for  the  most  deserv- 
ing pupils. 

Many  years  ago  the  Rev.  Henry  Baker, 
Sr.,  one  of  Travancore’s  most  devoted  mis- 
sionaries, was  called  home  to  his  reward ; 
several  years  have  passed  since  the  Rev. 
Henry  Baker,  Jr.,  who  followed  in  the  foot- 
steps of  his  father,  also  entered  into  rest, 
but  the  wife  and  mother,  her  heart  wedded 
to  the  work  in  which  her  life  since  her  early 
youth  has  been  spent,  still  continues  to 
labor,  thinking  not  of  rest  until  the  Master 
shall  summon  her  home. 

Who  can  estimate  the  influence  of  this 


SCHOOLS  FOR  CHRISTIAN  GIRLS.  263 

one  consecrated  life  ? Is  there  no  hope  for 
India,  when  all  over  the  land  are  found  such 
nurseries  of  piety?  May  each  child  trained 
in  these  schools  be  like  a lamp  which  shall 
shed  its  gleam  far  out  into  the  darkness  of 
India’s  night ! 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


SACRED  BEASTS  AND  BIRDS. 


SACRED  MONKEYS. 


ONE  of  the  largest  temples  in  the  city 
of  Benares  is  devoted  to  monkeys. 
Some  time  ago  we  visited  this  temple, 
and  saw,  running  over  its  roof,  climbing  its 
pillars  and  scampering  over  the  walls  of  the 
enclosure,  more  monkeys  than  I could  count 
— some  very  large  and  old  and  gray,  and 
some  very  young  and  small.  There  was 
in  this  temple  a bell  that  the  worshipers 
struck  when  they  presented  their  offerings. 
The  monkeys  would  climb  to  the  bell  and 
strike  the  hammer  against  the  sides  of  the 


bell,  just  as  they  saw  the  people  do. 

While  we  were  in  the  temple  people  came 
to  bring  offerings.  When  grain  was  thrown 
to  the  monkeys,  they  crowded  around,  chat- 
tered and  pushed  one  another  until  their 

264 


SACRED  BEASTS  AND  BIRDS.  265 

hunger  was  satisfied  or  the  food  exhausted. 
Some  of  the  older  monkeys,  with  baby- 
monkeys  in  their  care,  would  take  the  little 
creatures  in  their  arms,  and,  climbing  a wall 
or  a part  of  the  temple  above  our  reach, 
would  sit  and  look  at  us  very  gravely. 

I went  into  a school  one  day  to  hear  some 
little  Hindu  girls  read.  The  book  that  one 
of  the  children  held  in  her  hand  was  very 
badly  torn  ; and  when  I asked  her  how  it 
had  happened,  she  said,  “A  monkey  did 
it.” 

A gentleman  was  one  day  packing  his 
trunk  for  a journey,  when  a monkey  came 
in  at  the  door  and  carried  away  a pair  of 
gloves. 

The  monkeys  in  this  temple  do  a great 
deal  of  mischief  in  the  houses  and  in  the 
gardens  near,  but  no  one  would  dare  to 
injure  them. 

A few  years  ago  two  officers  in  India 
were  very  much  annoyed  by  a large  mon- 
key. One  of  the  men,  to  defend  himself, 
raised  his  gun  and  shot  the  animal.  When 
the  people  knew  what  had  been  done,  they 
were  not  only  frightened,  but  were  very 


266 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


angry,  and  began  to  hurl  stones  at  the  offi- 
cers, injuring  them  so  much  that,  as  the 
only  means  of  saving  their  lives,  they 
mounted  the  back  of  their  elephant  and 
ordered  the  driver  to  go  as  quickly  as  pos- 
sible to  the  Jumna  River,  which  was  not 
far  off,  and  let  the  elephant  swim  across. 
He  did  so  ; and  though  elephants  can  swim 
well,  yet  the  water  at  the  time  was  so  very 
high,  and  the  river  so  wide,  that  elephant 
and  riders  were  all  drowned. 

SACRED  BULLS. 

To  kill  a cow  is  considered  by  the  Hindus 
as  a very  great  crime.  In  one  of  the 
cities  in  India  where  we  lived  several  years 
ago  I saw  almost  every  day  in  the  bazar  a 
large  sacred  bull.  The  shopkeepers  in  In- 
dia usually  place  on  the  little  verandas  be- 
fore their  shops  samples  of  the  kind  of 
things  they  have  for  sale.  The  grain-mer- 
chants set  out  baskets  filled  with  various 
kinds  of  grain — wheat,  barley,  rice,  corn, 
and  other  kinds  that  you  have  never  seen. 
This  great  creature  would  come  to  one  of 
these  shops  and  eat  as  much  grain  as  he 


sacred  bulls.  They  were  very  troublesome, 
and  people  could  not  walk  about  comfort- 
ably ; so  the  magistrates  issued  an  order 
commanding  them  to  be  removed  from  the 
streets.  The  people  were  greatly  troubled, 
and  said,  “ What  can  we  do  ? We  must  not 


SACRED  BEASTS  AND  BIRDS.  267 

wanted,  and  the  shopkeeper  would  not 
disturb  him. 

A few  years  ago  in  the  streets  of  Be- 
nares were  seen  great  numbers  of  these 

o 


A SACRED  BULL. 


268 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


let  these  creatures  suffer.  We  will  build  a 
temple  for  them.”  So  they  built  a very 
large  and  very  fine  temple,  and  into  it  they 
gathered  the  sacred  animals ; and  there 
they  are  still  fed  and  cared  for,  the  people 
constantly  coming  to  bring  their  offerings. 

THE  PEACOCK. 

The  peacock  is  a sacred  bird,  and,  of 
course,  it  is  regarded  as  a crime  to  kill  one. 
About  five  years  ago  we  went  with  a party 
of  missionaries  to  a part  of  the  country 
where  white  people  had  never  before  gone. 
Our  tents  were  pitched  in  a pleasant  grove, 
because,  although  it  was  winter,  we  needed 
the  shade  of  the  trees  to  protect  us  from 
the  sun.  This  grove  was  full  of  peacocks. 

The  peacock  is  a bird  with  very  fine 
feathers,  but  his  voice  is  not  pleasant.  The 
little  robin  that  comes  to  sing-  with  the  first 
warm  days  of  spring  has  a plain  brown 
coat,  but  his  voice  is  full  of  music.  We 
did  not  like  the  screaming  of  so  many 
peacocks,  especially  as  they  were  never 
quiet  at  night,  and  disturbed  our  sleep  very 
much.  As  the  pea-fowl  is  good  for  food, 


SACRED  BEASTS  AND  BIRDS.  269 

we  proposed  that  one  should  be  shot.  We 
thought  not  only  that  this  would  give  us  a 
dinner,  but  that  the  noise  of  the  gun  would 
frighten  away  the  rest.  A missionary  who 
had  been  many  years  in  the  country  said, 

“No;  do  not  shoot  them.  They  are  no 
more  sacred  than  any  of  the  other  creatures 
God  has  made,  but  the  poor  natives  think 
them  so,  and  would  be  greatly  displeased 
if  even  one  should  be  killed.  They  have 
never  heard  of  the  Saviour.  We  have 
come  to  tell  them  of  him  ; and  if  we  dis- 
please them  by  taking  the  life  of  one  of 
those  birds,  they  will  not  listen  to  our 
words.” 

SACRED  FISH. 

A few  weeks  ago  we  saw  people  wor- 
shiping fish  in  a tank  which  had  been  made 
to  receive  the  water  from  a spring  that 
issued  from  the  ground  at  the  foot  of  a 
very  high  mountain.  The  tank  was  full  of 
fish,  and  the  water  was  so  clear  that  we 
could  see  every  movement  of  the  active 
little  fishes.  These  fish  were  regarded  as 
very  sacred ; no  one  was  allowed  to  catch 
or  injure  them,  but  they  were  fed  with  the 


2/0 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


choicest  food  by  the  people  who  came  to 
worship  them.-  They  brought  not  only 
wheat,  rice  and  little  cakes  made  of  fine 
flour,  but  milk,  and  even  roses.  In  a 
sheltered  place  near  the  edge  of  the  water 
a priest  sat  all  day  to  feed  the  fish.  Many 
times  during  the  day  people  came  to  bring 
their  offerings,  not  only  to  the  fish,  but  to 
the  priests  who  cared  for  them. 

YES,  AND  SNAKES  ! 

Snakes  are  worshiped.  The  people 
think  that  by  making  offerings  to  them 
they  will  receive  blessings.  For  many 
years  a large  snake  lived  about  one  of  the 
temples  of  India.  The  people  regarded 
the  ugly  creature  as  the  god  of  the  temple, 
and  of  course  he  was  not  disturbed,  but 
milk  and  food  of  whatever  kind  he  liked 
was  brought  him  in  abundance.  At  length 
a European  in  traveling  about  the  country 
came  to  this  temple,  and  seeing  the  large 
snake  crawling  about,  and  fearing  some 
one  would  be  injured  by  it,  killed  it.  It 
soon  became  known,  and  the  people  were 
greatly  enraged.  They  said  to  the  man, 


SACRED  BEASTS  AND  BIRDS.  2J\ 

“This  was  the  god  that  gave  us  the  rain. 
Our  fields  are  parched.  You  have  killed 
our  god,  and  the  rain  will  no  more  visit  us, 
and  we  and  our  little  ones  will  perish.” 
They  were  so  angry  that  the  man  was 
afraid  he  should  be  killed  by  them.  He 
said  to  them, 

“The  rain  will  surely  come  again.  This 
serpent  could  not  give  you  rain.” 

They  answered  angrily, 

“ He  has  brought  us  the  rain  for  many 
years.  When  our  fields  were  withered,  we 
have  brought  him  offerings,  and  in  return 
he  has  sent  refreshing  showers.” 

The  poor  man  did  not  know  what  to  do 
to  quiet  the  people,  but  he  asked  God  to 
help  him.  At  length  he  said, 

“ I tell  you  that  rain  will  come  again ; 
and  if  it  comes  again,  and  soon,  will  you  let 
me  go  in  peace  ? ’ 

They  consented  at  last,  and  the  man 
prayed  earnestly  to  God  to  give  the  people 
rain.  His  prayer  was  answered.  Heavy 
showers  soon  refreshed  the  parched  fields, 
and  the  people  then  permitted  him  to  de- 
part. 


2/2 


BITS  ABOUT  INDIA. 


THE  BAT. 

A traveler  in  India  a few  years  ago  shot 
a bat.  The  noise  of  the  gun  brought  all 
the  people  out  of  their  houses  ; and  when 
they  saw  that  one  of  the  creatures  which 
they  regard  as  sacred  had  been  wounded, 
they  set  up  a piercing  cry  and  surrounded 
the  man  who  had  committed  the  deed. 
The  man  be^an  to  fear  that  he  could 
not  escape;  but  when  they  became  a little 
more  quiet,  he  told  them  that  he  was 
very  sorry  for  what  he  had  done,  and 
promised  to  be  more  careful  in  the  future. 
He  was  then  allowed  to  return  to  his  tent, 
and  he  went  away  very  thankful  for  his 
deliverance. 

Are  you  not  glad  that  you  live  in  a coun- 
try where  the  life  of  a human  being  is  con- 
sidered of  more  consequence  than  that  of 
a cow,  a monkey,  a snake  or  a bat  ? and 
will  you  not  pity  and  pray  for  those  who, 
instead  of  worshiping  God,  worship  idols 
and  the  creatures  God  has  made  ? 


THE  END. 


